WULFENITE

03293

Locality

Los Lamentos Mountains, Municipal de Ahumada, Chihuahua, Mexico

Dimensions (H x W x D)

7.5 x 10.3 x 6 cm

Weight

677 g

Description & Provenance

Wulfenite is a lead (Pb) based mineral that produces diverse specimens thanks to its propensity for forming examples in a plethora of richly saturated colors and a variety of crystal habits. Wulfenite has a cult-like following among mineral collectors and is so loved that accounts of collected specimens pre-date its actual first recorded description (written in 1845 by Austrian mineralogist, Franz Xavier von Wulfen, for whom the mineral was named). Los Lamentos is a classic mining locality known for producing brown-orange wulfenite with robust and lustrous crystals. The best examples exhibit a more red-orange coloration and have a reflective sheen. This specimen is composed of dozens of well-formed, intergrown crystals in a rich, reddish caramel color. They have such exceptional luster that they almost appear to be wet. Most examples have just a few sparse crystals, making this dense cluster quite unique. This wulfenite was in the Rukin Jelks mineral collection until his passing in 2014 when it was de-accessed. The specimen’s provenance, fine aesthetics, and famed locality ensure that this piece will appreciate in value with time and remain a staple in the collecting world.

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