The facts
What wulfenite actually is
The species behind wulfenite is wulfenite, Pb(MoO₄); it forms in the tetragonal system.
Charge transfer in the molybdate group with Cr substitution deepening the orange-red; yellow when Cr-poor is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 2.283–2.405 and a specific gravity of about 6.5–7.0, with distinct {101} cleavage.
Where wulfenite comes from
Commercial material comes from Red Cloud Mine, La Paz County, Arizona, USA, Los Lamentos, Chihuahua, Mexico, Mibladen, Morocco, Rowley Mine, Arizona, USA and Mežica, Slovenia.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How wulfenite is treated
Untreated, but thin tabular crystals are extremely fragile and repaired or reglued specimens are common in the market — inspect the crystal-to-matrix junctions. Faceted wulfenite has a very high RI but Mohs 2.5 and is never a wearable stone.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What wulfenite is confused with
Watch for Crocoite, Vanadinite, Mimetite and Orange calcite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 2.283–2.405 and specific gravity 6.5–7.0 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What wulfenite is used for
The trades that buy wulfenite are mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 2.5–3; cleavage distinct {101}. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What wulfenite costs
Expect roughly Specimens $30–$25,000; classic Red Cloud plates $1,000–$20,000, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is wulfenite treated, and how?
Untreated, but thin tabular crystals are extremely fragile and repaired or reglued specimens are common in the market — inspect the crystal-to-matrix junctions. Faceted wulfenite has a very high RI but Mohs 2.5 and is never a wearable stone.
Where does wulfenite come from?
Red Cloud Mine, La Paz County, Arizona, USA, Los Lamentos, Chihuahua, Mexico, Mibladen, Morocco, Rowley Mine, Arizona, USA and Mežica, Slovenia. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is wulfenite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2.5–3 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does wulfenite cost?
Indicatively Specimens $30–$25,000; classic Red Cloud plates $1,000–$20,000. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is wulfenite confused with?
Most often Crocoite, Vanadinite, Mimetite and Orange calcite. A refractive index of 2.283–2.405 and a specific gravity near 6.5–7.0 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for wulfenite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about wulfenite