Identification guide · Molybdate Minerals
How to Identify Wulfenite
Wulfenite is usually orange, yellow, and red with a adamantine luster and is transparent. It has a Mohs hardness of 3. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. Its streak is white. It is most often confused with Calcite, Mimetite, and Vanadinite; the tests below separate them.
Wulfenite identification checklist
| Color | Orange, Yellow, Red, Brown | Look at a clean, dry surface in daylight. Color zoning, banding or spots are as diagnostic as the hue. |
|---|---|---|
| Luster | Adamantine | Fresh surfaces shine like glass; a dull surface usually means weathering, so chip or wet a corner. |
| Transparency | Transparent | Hold a thin edge up to a bright light and note whether light passes through. |
| Mohs hardness | 3 | A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not. |
| Streak | White | Drag a corner across unglazed porcelain (the back of a bathroom tile) and check the powder color. |
| Cleavage | Distinct | |
| Fracture | Uneven | |
| Specific gravity | 6.8 | Very heavy, metallic heft (specific gravity about 6.8). |
| Crystal system | Tetragonal |
Wulfenite look-alikes and how to tell them apart
Both sit near Mohs 3, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Wulfenite vs Calcite →
Both sit near Mohs 3, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Wulfenite vs Mimetite →
Both sit near Mohs 3, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead. Wulfenite vs Vanadinite →
Both sit near Mohs 3, so a scratch test alone will not separate them. Lean on luster, streak and heft instead.
Field tips
- Look for thin square tabular crystals with an adamantine luster in orange to yellow hues.
- Unusually high density from lead content helps distinguish wulfenite from similar minerals.
- Occurrence in oxidized lead deposits and low hardness near 3 support identification.
Wulfenite identification FAQ
How can you tell if a rock is Wulfenite?
Check the color (orange, yellow, red, and brown), the adamantine luster, a Mohs hardness of 3 and a white streak. Photographing it with the StoneSnap app gives a match in seconds.
What is the hardness of Wulfenite?
Wulfenite has a Mohs hardness of 3. A copper coin (Mohs 3.5) scratches it, but a fingernail does not.
What is the difference between Wulfenite and Calcite?
Wulfenite (Mohs 3, adamantine luster) and Calcite (Mohs 3, vitreous luster) look alike, but hardness, streak and heft usually separate them. See the full Wulfenite vs Calcite comparison for a side-by-side table.
Is Wulfenite worth anything?
Entry-level Wulfenite specimens sell for around $12, typical collector pieces about $80, and premium examples $700 or more depending on size, quality and locality.
What color is Wulfenite?
Wulfenite is most often orange, yellow, red, and brown. Color varies with impurities and locality, so confirm with hardness and luster rather than color alone.
