Wulfenite Mineral Data

General Wulfenite Information

Chemical Formula:

PbMoO4

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 367.14 gm

Molybdenum 26.13 % Mo 39.21 % MoO₃

Lead 56.44 % Pb 65.15 % PbO₂

Oxygen 17.43 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 104.36 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Pb(MoO₄)

Environment:

Secondary lead mineral. Forms a series with stolzite.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1845

Locality:

Bleiberg, Villach, Kï¿½rnten (Carinthia), Austria Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after the Austrian mineralogist, Frantz Xaver von Wulfen (1728-1805).

Name Pronunciation:

Wulfenite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 26784

PDF 44-1486

Yellow Lead Ore

Wulfenite Image

Images:

Wulfenite

Comments: Tabular crystal druse of brownish orange wulfenite on matrix.
Location: Ahumada mine, Los Lamentos, Chihuahua, Mexico. Scale: Crystal size 5-10 mm.
© Dave Barthelmy

Images:

Mimetite Wulfenite

Comments: Gemmy, pale yellow mimetite crystal with brownish-orange wulfenite. Former James and Dawn Minette Collection.
Location: Gem Pocket 1971, Tsumeb, Namibia. Scale: 2 x 1 x 1 cm.
© Rob Lavinsky

Wulfenite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:2.22815

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.435, c = 12.11, Z = 4; V = 357.72 Den(Calc)= 6.82

Crystal System:

Tetragonal - Dipyramidal H-M Symbol (4/m) Space Group: I 4₁/a

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.24(1), 2.021(0.3), 1.653(0.25),

Forms:

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Forms: ( 1 0 1) ( 1 0 0) ( 0 0 1)

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Physical Properties of Wulfenite

Cleavage:

{101} Imperfect

Color:

Orange yellow, Waxy yellow, Yellowish gray, Olive green, Brown.

Density:

6.5 - 7, Average = 6.75

Diaphaneity:

Subtransparent to subtranslucent

Fracture:

Brittle - Conchoidal - Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Habit:

Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.

Hardness:

3 - Calcite

Luminescence:

Fluorescent, Short UV=yellow to orange to red, Long UV=yellow to orange to red.

Luster:

Resinous - Greasy

Streak:

yellowish white

Optical Properties of Wulfenite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.242 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.23 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1984,KPDmeas= 0.2004,KC= 0.1613
Ncalc = 2.05 - 2.13

Optical Data:

Uniaxial (-), e=2.304, w=2.402, bire=0.0980.

Calculated Properties of Wulfenite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=5.80 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Wulfenite =6.82 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.19
Boson Index = 0.81

Photoelectric:

PE_Wulfenite=1,066.49 barns/electron
U=PE_Wulfenite x rElectron Density=6,181.11 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Wulfenite is Not Radioactive

Wulfenite Classification

Dana Class:

48.01.03.01 (48)Anhydrous Molybdates and Tungstates

(48.01)where A XO4

(48.01.03)Wulfenite Series

48.01.03.01 Wulfenite PbMoO4 I 4₁/a 4/m

48.01.03.02 Stolzite PbWO4 I 4₁/a 4/m

Strunz Class:

07.GA.05 07 - SULFATES (SELENATES, TELLURATES)

07.G - Molybdates, Wolframates and Niobates

07.GA -Without additional anions or H2O

07.GA.05 Fergusonite-(Ce)* (Ce,La,Y)NbO4 I 4₁/a 4/m

07.GA.05 Fergusonite-(Nd)* (Nd,Ce)(Nb,Ti)O4 I 4₁/a 4/m

07.GA.05 Fergusonite-(Y) YNbO4 I 4₁/a 4/m

07.GA.05 Stolzite PbWO4 I 4₁/a 4/m

07.GA.05 Scheelite CaWO4 I 4₁/a 4/m

07.GA.05 Powellite CaMoO4 I 4₁/a 4/m

07.GA.05 Wulfenite PbMoO4 I 4₁/a 4/m

Other Wulfenite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Collectors Book of Fluorescent Minerals) OPTIC PROP.(Ford32)

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Wulfenite

PbMoO4
Dana No: 48.01.03.01 Strunz No: 07.GA.05
Locality:

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