Wulfenite with Polymorphite

UNB-2018-0045Minerals » Molybdate » Wulfenite

Description

Sample of reddish/orange tabular euhedral Wulfenite with pale-green, small globular Polymorphite. Wulfenite crystals have a more adamantine lustre and the Polymorphite crystals have a more subadamantine lustre. Wulfenite crystal size: 0.7 cm x 0.7 cm x 0.2 cm. Wulfenite (PbMoO4) can be yellow, orange, brown, yellowish grey or whitish in colour. Lustre is resinous or adamantine and streak is white. Hardness is 3 and cleavage is distinct in one direction. Wulfenite usually occurs as pseudo-triangular due to twinning but can also be square tabular, thin, cube-like or coarse to fine-grained granular. Polymorphite (Pb5(PO4)3Cl) can come in a variety of colours from dark green to white. Lustre can be resinous or subadamantine and streak is white. Hardness is 3 1/2 to 4 and cleavage is imperfect. Polymorphite usually occurs as prismatic or acicular crystals but can also be globular or reniform. https://www.mindat.org/min-3320.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyromorphite Smallman Collection

Specifications

Object nameWulfenite with Polymorphite
IDUNB-2018-0045
Legal statusPermanent collection
CategoryMineral
Classification
Mineral group:
Molybdate
Sub-group:
Wulfenite
Composition
  • PbMoO4
OriginKazakhstan
Pieces1
PartialNo
Measurements
  • 4cm x 7.8cm x 4.6cm

Map of Origin

Publications

  • Chesterman, C.W. 1979. Audubon Society, Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals. Knopf.