Wulfenite

  • Updated
    07/12/22
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Wulfenite Click to enlarge image
Large orange browm crystals up to 2 cm square on matrix. Wulfenite, Sierra de Los Lamentos, Mun. de Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico, from the Albert Chapman Collection. Image: Carl Bento
© Australian Museum

Transparent, large and flawless anglesite crystals are rare, and some crystals from the Toussit Mine have been of sufficient quality for cutting beautiful faceted gems. These gems have high brilliance because of their high lead content, which gives ‘fire’ from the splitting of light into its spectral colours, and the gem cut, which reflects light from their interiors.

Albert Chapman purchased this specimen from German mineral collector and dealer Horst Burkard in 1984.

Specimen details

  • Origin

    Toussit Mine, Gebel Mahser, near Oudja, Morocco

  • Size

    5.5 x 3.5 x 0.23 cm

  • Date

    Registered 1996

  • Collection number

    D.50456

  • Collection

    Albert Chapman Collection

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