Wulfenite

specimen number:
8311465

location:
M'Fouati, Bouenza, Republic of Congo

description:
Choice thumbnail for this important locality with a lustrous sharp slightly translucent crystal of wulfenite set nicely on matrix. This is in great condition.

The M'Fouati Mine, located in the Bouenza Department of the Republic of the Congo, is situated within the Neoproterozoic West Congo Belt. Geologically, the deposit is a lead-zinc-copper occurrence hosted in carbonate rocks, where intensive weathering and oxidation have created a diverse suite of secondary minerals. The site is a notable locality for wulfenite, which occurs as small, tabular, yellow to orange-yellow crystals often found in association with other oxidation products like cerussite and hemimorphite. Historically, mining and quarrying at M'Fouati began during the colonial era, with significant industrial extraction of lead and zinc ores occurring primarily between 1938 and 1961. While primary large-scale commercial operations ended decades ago, the area has seen intermittent artisanal activity and remain of interest for mineralogical research. As of 2026, M'Fouati is recognized by collectors for its historic specimens, representing a key example of the metal-rich mineralization found in the Niari Valley.

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