Wulfenite

specimen number:
2242068

location:
Red Cloud Mine, La Paz Co., Arizona, USA

description:
A lustrous mostly gemmy orange red crystal of wulfenite with little attached matrix. A superb thumbnail for this Arizona classic. In great condition.

The Red Cloud Mine, located in the Silver District of the Trigo Mountains in La Paz County, Arizona, is world-renowned for producing the finest wulfenite specimens ever discovered. Geologically, the mine is situated within a complex fault zone where hydrothermal fluids deposited lead and silver minerals in volcanic host rocks, which later underwent extensive oxidation. This process resulted in the formation of wulfenite, a lead molybdate mineral, occurring as magnificent, tabular crystals with a deep "red-orange" color and high adamantine luster, often associated with mimetite and cerussite. Historically, mining and quarrying at the site began in the early 1880s, primarily for silver, with the main periods of operation occurring under the Silver King and later various independent operators through the early 20th century. While industrial silver production was relatively short-lived, the mine was reopened multiple times for specimen mining, notably in the 1990s and again in recent years, to satisfy the global demand for its unique crystals. The Red Cloud Mine remains an iconic locality in mineralogy, and geological research into its specific oxidation environment continues to provide insights into the formation of high-quality molybdate minerals through 2026.

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