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Abstract
6-3 Rasmussen, Jan C., 2009, Wulfenite in Arizona: Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources, Mineral Report, p. 1-7.
Abstract
6-3 Rasmussen, Jan C., 2009, Wulfenite in Arizona: Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources, Mineral Report, p. 1-7.
ABS
Arizona is famous for its spectacular wulfenite specimens. Specimens photographed for this article were on display at the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum. The butterscotch-colored, bladed crystals from the Glove Mine in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson and the bright red chunky blades from the Red Cloud Mine in the Silver district north of Yuma are prized highlights of many mineral collections. Most of these famous mineral localities are no longer available to collectors, making the historic specimens even more valuable.
Wulfenite is lead molybdate, PbMoO4, that forms in the oxidized zones of lead deposits where the white needle-like crystals of cerussite (PbCO3) have developed. Surprisingly, the presence of molybdenite is not required. Wulfenite rarely occurs in the same mineral deposits as molybdenite, and then only in the later stages of the deposits. Even there, wulfenite does not occur unless cerussite or mimetite is present. There had to be enough lead in the system in a relatively soluble mineral to allow the molybdenum in the ground water to combine with lead and oxygen as wulfenite.
Key words
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Abstract
6-3 Rasmussen, Jan C., 2009, Wulfenite in Arizona: Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources, Mineral Report, p. 1-7.
ABS
Arizona is famous for its spectacular wulfenite specimens. Specimens photographed for this article were on display at the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum. The butterscotch-colored, bladed crystals from the Glove Mine in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson and the bright red chunky blades from the Red Cloud Mine in the Silver district north of Yuma are prized highlights of many mineral collections. Most of these famous mineral localities are no longer available to collectors, making the historic specimens even more valuable.
Wulfenite is lead molybdate, PbMoO4, that forms in the oxidized zones of lead deposits where the white needle-like crystals of cerussite (PbCO3) have developed. Surprisingly, the presence of molybdenite is not required. Wulfenite rarely occurs in the same mineral deposits as molybdenite, and then only in the later stages of the deposits. Even there, wulfenite does not occur unless cerussite or mimetite is present. There had to be enough lead in the system in a relatively soluble mineral to allow the molybdenum in the ground water to combine with lead and oxygen as wulfenite.
Key words
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