Wulfenite

Wulfenite is a lead molybdate mineral. It can most often found as thin tabular crystals with a bright orange-red to yellow-orange color, sometimes brown, although the color can be highly variable. In its yellow form it sometimes called “yellow lead ore”.

It crystallizes in the tetragonal system, often occurring as stubby, pyramidal or tabular crystals. It also occurs as earthy, granular masses. Wulfenite found in many localities, associated with lead ores as a secondary mineral associated with the oxidized zone of lead deposits. It  also a secondary ore of molybdenum, and sought by collectors.

Wulfenite was first described in 1845 for an occurrence in Bad Bleiberg, Carinthia, Austria. It named for Franz Xavier von Wulfen (1728–1805), an Austrian mineralogist.