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WULFENITE and MIMETITE (small cabinet)

WULFENITE and MIMETITE (small cabinet)

$346.50 AUD
Size (HWD in mm) weight in gr
Origin
Specimen nr.

Wulfenite is a mineral composed of lead molybdate, represented by the chemical formula PbMoO4. It typically forms as thin, tabular crystals that exhibit a vibrant color range from bright orange-red to yellow-orange, and occasionally brown, with significant color variation. The yellow variant is sometimes referred to as "yellow lead ore." 

This mineral crystallizes in the tetragonal system, often appearing as stubby, pyramidal, or tabular forms, and can also be found in earthy, granular aggregates. Wulfenite is commonly located in various regions, typically as a secondary mineral within the oxidized zones of lead ore deposits, and serves as a secondary source of molybdenum, making it a desirable specimen for collectors. 

First identified in 1845 from a site in Bad Bleiberg, Carinthia, Austria, Wulfenite was named in honor of the Austrian mineralogist Franz Xavier von Wulfen. It is found alongside other minerals such as cerussite, anglesite, and vanadinite in oxidized hydrothermal lead deposits.

Mimetite is a mineral composed of lead arsenate chloride (Pb5(AsO4)3Cl) that typically forms as a secondary mineral in lead deposits through the oxidation of galena and arsenopyrite. Its name is derived from the Greek word Μιμητής mimetes, which translates to "imitator," highlighting its similarity to the mineral pyromorphite. This similarity is significant, as mimetite is part of a mineral series that includes both pyromorphite (Pb5(PO4)3Cl) and vanadinite (Pb5(VO4)3Cl). Noteworthy locations for mimetite include Mapimi in Durango, Mexico, and Tsumeb in Namibia.

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