Wulfenita

La Wulfenita es un molibdato de plomo que se encuentra típicamente a modo de finos cristales de color rojo anaranjado brillante, naranja amarillento, amarillo o gris amarillento en la zona de oxidación de depósitos hidrotermales de plomo a modo de mineral secundario.

Características generales

Fórmula: Pb(MoO₄)
Sistema de cristalización: Tetragonal
Lustre: Resinoso - graso
Color: Gris amarillento, amarillo céreo, amarillo anaranjado, amarillo, verde oliva o pardo
Dureza: 2,8-3
Rareza: común
Características distintivas: Hábito cristalino, color, densidad y lustre.
Grupo de minerales: Grupo de la Scheelita

Fotografías

En la galería de fotografías dispones de 3 fotografías de Wulfenita

Wulfenita (3 de 3)

Wulfenita (2 de 3)

Wulfenita (1 de 3)

Formación y ambiente

En depósitos hidrotermales de sulfuros de plomo que contienen molibdeno.

Mineral propio de la zona de oxidación de los yacimientos de plomo.

Propiedades fisicas

Hábito: Cristales de hábito tabular bastante cuadrados, muy raramente piramidal o bipiramidal maclado.

Lustre: Resinoso - graso

Transparencia: Subtransparente, Subtranslúcido

Color: Gris amarillento, amarillo céreo, amarillo anaranjado, amarillo, verde oliva o pardo

Color en sección fina: Incolora

Raya: Blanca amarillenta

Dureza (Mohs): 2,8-3

Tenacidad: Frágil

Exfoliación::

Primera exfoliación: Imperfecta en [101]

Fractura: Concoidal

Densidad: 6,5-7 g/cm³ (medida) | 6,82 g/cm³ (calculada)

Cristalografía

Sistema cristalino:

Tetragonal

Clase (H-M): 1m (6/m) - Dipiramidal

Grupo espacial: I4(1)/a

Parámetros de la celda: a=5,435Å c=12,11Å

Volumen de unidad de celda: V 357,72Å

Z: 4

Difracción de Rayos X:

Difracción de Rayos X
D(hkl)	Intensidad
3,24	100
2,021	30
1,653	25

Propiedades ópticas

Tipo: Uniaxial (-)

Valores RI: n_α= 2,304; n_γ= 2,402

Máxima birrefringencia: δ = 0,098

Dispersión: Ninguna

Reflectancia:

Reflectancia
D(hkl)	Intensidad
470.0	16,3
546.0	15,45
589.0	15,15
650.0	14,65

Propiedades químicas

Fórmula: Pb(MoO₄)

Elementos químicos: Pb, Mo, O

Composición química: O: 17,43%, Mo: 26,13%, Pb: 56,44%,

Tests químicos

Fusibilidad: 2; Mineral tipo: Natrolita; Punto de fusión: 800ºC; Funde con mechero de gas
Reacción a los ácidos: Se descompone en HCl caliente concentrado.
Formación de sublimados: Se funde en glóbulos metálicos

Otras propiedades

Magnetismo: No magnético

Relaciones con otros minerales

Miembro del grupo de minerales: Grupo de la Scheelita

minerales

Powellita

Fórmula: Ca(MoO₄)
Sistema de cristalización: Tetragonal
Dureza: 3,5
Raya: Amarillo claro
Brillo: Adamantino, resinoso

minerales

Raspita

Fórmula: Pb(WO₄)
Sistema de cristalización: Monoclínico
Dureza: 2,5-3
Color: Gris amarillento, pardo amarillento o amarillo claro.
Raya: Blanca amarillenta
Brillo: Adamantino

minerales

Scheelita

Fórmula: Ca(WO₄)
Sistema de cristalización: Tetragonal
Dureza: 4,5-5
Color: Incoloro, blanco, amarillento, marrón
Raya: Blanco
Brillo: Vítreo

minerales

Stolzita

Fórmula: Pb(WO₄)
Sistema de cristalización: Tetragonal
Dureza: 2,5-3
Raya: Blanco
Brillo: Adamantino, resinoso

minerales

Wulfenita

Fórmula: Pb(MoO₄)
Sistema de cristalización: Tetragonal
Dureza: 2,8-3
Color: Gris amarillento, amarillo céreo, amarillo anaranjado, amarillo, verde oliva o pardo
Raya: Blanca amarillenta
Brillo: Resinoso - graso

Minerales acompañantes:

minerales

Yacimientos y localidades de interés

Localidades

Bleiberg, Villach, Kärnten, Austria - Localidad tipo.
Sankt Joannis von Nepomuceni mine, Annaberg (near), Kärnten (Carinthia), Austria - Localidad tipo.
Sankt Joannis von Nepomuceni mine, Annaberg, Lower Austria, Austria - Localidad tipo.
Crna, Slovenia - Localidad tipo.
Claim 84, Anticline prospect, Ashburton Downs, Western Australia, Australia
Morass Creek, Benambra, Victoria, Australia
Whim Creek, Pilbara region, Western Australia, Australia
Schellgaden, Salzburg, Austria
Schwaz-Brixlegg, Tyrol, Austria
Demix-Varennes quarry, Saint-Amable sill, Varennes, Verchéres Co., Québec, Canada
Mt St.-Hilaire, Rouville Co., Québec, Canada
Poudrette quarry, Mt St.-Hilaire, Rouville Co., Québec, Canada
Gansu, China
Leshan Mine, Sichuan Province, China
Hurky, Stredocesky kraj, Bohemia, Czech Republic
Krupka, Krusne Hory, Vychodocesky, Czech Republic
Lill mine, Brezove hory (Birkenberg), Príbram, Stredocesky, Czech Republic
Moldava, Teplice, Krusne Hory, Vychodocesky, Czech Republic
Príbram, Stredocesky, Czech Republic
Annesley Railway Tunnel, Kirby in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England
Arm O'Grain, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Ball Eye quarry, Bosnal, Derbyshire, England
Batts Coombe Quarry, Cheddar, Somerset, England
Brandy Gill Lead mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Bullwell Pottery Qry, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
Burtness Wood, Buttermere, Cumbria, England
Carrock mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Coombe Beck, Buttermere, Cumbria, England
Coombe Farm Quarry, Henbury, Bristol, Somerset, England
Crich Quarry, Crich, Derbyshire, England
Dirtlow Rake, Castleton, Derbyshire, England
Driggith Mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Eagle Crag Mine, Patterdale, Cumbria, England
Ecton Hill,Clayton Adi, Ecton Hill, Staffordshire, England
Emerson Vein, Brandy Gill, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Engine Vein, Alderley Edge, Shropshire, England
Force Crag Mine, Keswick, Cumbria, England
Garras mine, St. Erme, Cornwall, England
Greystones quarry, Lezant, Cornwall, England
Hartsop Hall Mine, Brothers Water, Cumbria, England
Higher Pitts farm, Priddy, Mendip Hills, Somerset, England
Higher Pitts mine, Priddy, Mendip Hills, Somerset, England
Ingray Gill, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Isolation Mine, Snelstone Nr Ashbourne, Derbyshire, England
Kinniside Mine, Cleaton Moor, Cumbria, England
L'Etacq Quarry, Jersey, Channel Islands, England
Ladywash mine, Eyam, Derbyshire, England
Limekiln Wood, Newstead, Nr Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, England
Merehead quarry, near Cranmore, Mendips, Somerset, England
Mexico mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Myers Head Mine, Hartsop, Cumbria, England
Poddy Gill, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Polzeath Consols, St. Minver, Cornwall, England
Redmoor mine, Kelly Bray, Callington, Cornwall, England
Ruthwaite Lodge Vein, Grisedale, Cumbria, England
Sacheveral Farm, Winster, Derbyshire, England
Shap Pink Quarry, Shap, Cumbria, England
Shelve Mine, Shelve, Shropshire, England
Silver Gill, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Speedwell Mine, Castleton, Derbyshire, England
Todd Gill, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England
Waterbank mine, Ecton, Staffordshire, England
Wesley Mine, Westbury on Trym, Somerset, England
West Mine, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, England
Wheal Golden, Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, England
Wheal Ludcott, St. Ive, Cornwall, England
Wheal Mary Ann, Menheniot, Cornwall, England
Wheal Unity, Gwennap, Cornwall, England
Wood mine, Alderley Edge, Cheshire, England
Cap Garonne, Le Pradet, Var, France
Les Farges mine, Corrèze, Limousin, France
Mas d'Alary, Hérault, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Monsols, Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France
Rabéjac quarry, Hérault, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Christophstal, Freudenstadt, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Clara mine, Oberwolfach, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Daniel mine, Schneeberg, Sachsen, Germany
Erzengel Gabriel mine, Einbachtal, Kinzigtal, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
Himmelfürst mine, Freiberg, Sachsen, Germany
Adayir mine, no.2 level, Laurion, Attica, Greece
Hilarion adit, Agios Konstandinos, Laurion, Attica, Greece
Ivigtut, Arsuk Fjord, Greenland
Chah Kharboze, near Anarak, Iran
Chah Mileh, Anarak District, Iran
Nakhlak Mine, Anarak District, Iran
Seh-Changi deposit, Khorassan, Iran
Lemgare Mine, Co. Monaghan, Ireland
Springfield Abbey, Co. Tipperary, Ireland
Carrara, Tuscany, Italy
Seravezza, Tuscany, Italy
Val Graveglia, Liguria, Italy
Zorzone mine, Val Brembana, Lombardy, Italy
Ajaguz, Kazakhstan
Ahumada & Erupcion mines, Sierra de Los Lamentos, Chihuahua, Mexico
Aquilesas Serdan, Chihuahua, Mexico
Erupcion mine, Chihuahua, Mexico
Los Lamentos Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico
Los Lamentos Mine, Villa Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico
Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
San Francisco Mine, (Cerro Prieto Mine), Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico
Mibladen mine, near Midelt, Morocco
Ourd Mekta Mine, Touissit, Oujda, Morocco
Touissit, Oujda, Morocco
Abaneb West mine, Otavi, Namibia
Khusib mine, Otavi, Namibia
Kombat mine, Tsumeb, Otavi, Namibia
Tsumeb mine, Tsumeb, Otavi, Namibia
Tsumeb, Namibia
Ayaguz, Semipalatinsk Oblast', NE of Lake Balkhash, Kazakstan
Abergairn Mine, Glen Gairn, Scotland
Broadlaw Vein, Leadhills, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Caulkerbush, Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Clatteringshaws Res., New Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Drumruck Mine, Girthon, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
East Stayvoyage vein, Leadhills, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Gairnshiel Bridge, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Hopeful vein, Leadhills, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Lauchentyre Mine, Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Loch na Meine Mine, Struy Strath Glass, Scotland
Needle's Eye Mine, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
Pass of Ballater, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Pibble Mine, Creetown, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Raiks vein, Broadlaw, Leadhills, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Struy Mines, Strathglass, Scotland
Susannah Mine, Leadhills, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Waygate Shaft, Straitstep Vein, Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Helena mine, Cma, Slovenia
Mezica mine, Mezica, Slovenia
Stephanie mine, Mezica, Slovenia
Union Mine, Mezica, Slovenia
Lengenbach quarry, Binntal, Valais, Switzerland
Lungen valley, Maderane, Switzerland
Mürtschenalp, Glarus, Switzerland
Barbour prospect, Stoneham, Oxford Co., Maine, USA
Biermann & Codfish Hill quarries, Bethel, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, USA
Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
Black Butte prospect, Crook Co., Wyoming, USA
Black Rock mine, Yuma Co., Arizona, USA
Blue Bell Mine, Baker, San Bernardino Co., California, USA
Chalk Mountain Mine, Fallon Area, Churchill Co., Nevada, USA
Chloride mine, Yuma Co., Arizona, USA
Cincinnati mine, St. Peter's Dome, Pikes Peak Region, El Paso Co., Colorado, USA
Cole shaft, Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
Commercial Mine, Georgetown, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
Courtland-Gleeson District, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
Crestmore Quarry, Crestmore, Riverside Co., California, USA
Darwin Antimony mine, Inyo Co., California, USA
Darwin, Inyo Co., California, USA
Defiance mine, Gleeson, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
Denver Shaft, Central district, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
Dives mine, La Paz Co., Arizona, USA
Ecton mine, Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania, USA
Fairview Claim, Bear Canyon, Dona Ana Co., New Mexico, USA
Finch Mine, Hayden, Gila Co., Arizona, USA
Glove Mine, San Rita Mts., Santa Cruz Co., Arizona, USA
Gold Hill mine, Tooele Co., Utah, USA
Great Southern Mine, Wickenberg, Yavapai Co., Arizona, USA
Hamburg Mine, Trigo Mts., Yuma Co., Arizona, USA
Hickey #1 Mine, Hansonburg district, Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA
Hilltop mine, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
Interstate 295 roadcut, Cranston, Providence Co., Rhode Island, USA
Kelly Mine, Magdalena district, Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA
Lemitar Mts, Lemitat Mountain district, Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA
Liberty Bell and Washington Pass, Okanogan Co., Washington, USA
Lubec Lead mine, Lubec, Washington Co., Maine, USA
Macy Mine, Hillsboro district, Sierra Co., New Mexico, USA
Madison Lead mine, Madison, Carroll Co., New Hampshire, USA
Magma Mine, Superior, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA
Mammoth-St. Anthony mine, Tiger, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA
Manhan mines, Easthampton, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts, USA
May Flower Mine, Socorro Peak district, Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA
Melissa mine, Yuma Co., Arizona, USA
Memphis Mine, Organ district, Dona Ana Co., New Mexico, USA
Mex-Tex mine, Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA
Old Yuma Mine, Pima Co., Arizona, USA
Old Yuma Mine, Tuscon Area, Pima Co., Arizona, USA
Ora Mine, Hansonburg district, Socorro Co., New Mexico, USA
Papago mine, Yuma Co., Arizona, USA
Purple Passion Mine, Wickenberg, Yavapai Co., Arizona, USA
Red Cloud Mine, Trego Mts., La Paz Co., Arizona, USA
Rowley mine, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA
Sammy Dog Mine, Silverbell Mts, Pima Co., Arizona, USA
Sedalia Copper Mine, Sedalia, Chaffee Co., Colorado, USA
Shirley Ann claim, Big Dodd Spring, Ubehebe distr., Inyo Co., California, USA
Silver Bill mine, Gleeson, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
Silver Coin Mine, Humboldt Co., Nevada, USA
Silver Crown copper district, Laramie Co., Wyoming, USA
Silver Glance mine, Silent district, Arizona, USA
Silver King Mine, Superior, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA
Stephenson-Bennett mine, Organ District, Dona Ana Co., New Mexico, USA
Summit Mine, Broadwater Co., Montana, USA
Sunnybrook Mine, Cherry Creek district, Yavapai Co., Arizona, USA
Thomaston dam, Thomaston, Litchfield Co., Connecticut, USA
Tonopah-Belmont mine, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA
Tortilla Mountains, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA
Tyrone Mine, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
Uncle Sam Mine, White Signal district, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
Aberdaunant Mine, Nr. Llanidloes, Powys, Wales
Alltycrib Mine, Talybont, Ceulanymaesmawr, Dyfed, Wales
Bwlch Glas Mine, Talybont, Ceulanymaesmawr, Dyfed, Wales
Bwlch-glas mine, near Talybont, Dyfed, Wales
Bwlchrehennaid Mine (Level Newydd), Goginan, Tirymynach, Dyfed, Wales
Cwm Orog Mine, Llangynog, Powys, Wales
Cwmdarren Mine, Ponterwyd, Dyfed, Wales
Darren Mine, Penbontrhydybeddau, Parcel Canol, Dyfed, Wales
Dyfngwm mine, Penegoes, Powys, Wales
Dylife Mine, Dylife, Machynlleth, Powys, Wales
East Glogfach Mine, Ysbyty Ystwyth, Dyfed, Wales
East Glogfawr mine, Ysbyty Ystwyth, Dyfed, Wales
Esgair Hir mine, Talybont, Ceulanymaesmawr, Dyfed, Wales
Esgairfraith Mine, Talybont, Ceulanymaesmawr, Dyfed, Wales
Frongoch Mine, Pontrhydygroes, Dyfed, Wales
Geufron Mine, Llanidloes, Powys, Wales
Glogfawr Mine, Ysbyty Ystwyth, Dyfed, Wales
Henfwlch Mine, Talybont, Ceulanymaesmawr, Dyfed, Wales
Llangynog Mine, Llangynog, Powys, Wales
Llechwedd Helyg mine, Tir-y-Mynach, Dyfed, Wales
Mynydd Gorddu Mine, Bontgoch, Ceulanymaesmawr, Dyfed, Wales
Nant-y-Cagel mine (Eagle Brook), Talybont, Ceulanymaesmawr, Dyfed, Wales
Nant-y-Car Mine, Rhayader, Powys, Wales
Pandy Mine, Tre'r-ddol, Llangynfelyn, Dyfed, Wales
Penybanc Mine, Talybont, Llangynfelyn, Dyfed, Wales
Rhiw Nant Mine, Powys, Wales
South Nant-y-car Mine, Nr. Rhayader, Wales
Ty Coch Mine, Porthcawl, Bridgend, Wales
Ystrad Einion Mine, Furnace, Ysgubor-y-coed, Dyfed, Wales
M'Fouati, Zaire
Musonoi mine, Kolwezi, Shaba, Zaire
Sanda mine, Mindouli Region, Congo, Zaire
Broken Hill mine, Kabwe, Zambia