Wulfenite

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The historic mines in the municipality of Bad Bleiberg, in the Bleiberg District of Carinthia, Austria, are the type locality to the much-loved mineral Wulfenite, a lead molybdate. The exact discovery and specific locality are lost in the mists of time. Have no doubt about it, this quite breath-taking specimen would grace any museum and is a delightful jumble of large intergrown tabular Wulfenite plates of semi-translucent buttery apricot-orange. The tabular crystals are only about 1 mm thick yet form octagonal plates to 2.4 cm across. Despite this delicately thin dimension, the largest crystals remain well protected due to their placement amidst the specimen, which is relatively long and narrow. From what will be likely considered the display face, the Wulfenite has a mirror-bright lustre however, from the back, the crystals are a frosted creamy-apricot. A wonderful Wulfenite from its type locality in Austria.