Wulfenite – Kuruktag Mountains – Xinjiang Uygur, China

Wulfenite is a mineral belonging to the molybdenate group with the chemical formula PbMoO₄ (lead molybdenate). It is named after the Austrian mineralogist Franz Xavier von Wulfen, who contributed to research on this mineral. This mineral is known for its distinctive colours, which range from bright yellow and orange to red and brown. Wulfenite crystallises in a tetragonal system, with crystals typically thin, tabular and often having a glassy or diamond-like lustre. It is one of the most attractive minerals due to its color variation and aesthetic crystal forms.

Wulfenite forms in the oxidized zones of lead and molybdenum deposits as a secondary mineral. Its important localities include mines in the USA (Arizona), Mexico, Austria, Slovenia and Morocco.

Wulfenite has a low hardness, only 2.5-3 on the Mohs scale, which means that it is relatively brittle. Despite its fragility, it is highly sought after because of its distinctive colour palette and crystal shape. It is often found together with minerals such as galena, cerussite, anglesite, or descloizite, which increases its attractiveness in collector's specimens where these minerals are found together in combinations.