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Exceptional Large Stolzite Crystal
TUNGSTATES AND MOLYBDATES · TETRAGONAL

Stolzite

PbWO4

Hardness
2.5–3
Streak
White
Spec. Gravity
8.3–8.4
System
Tetragonal

About

Stolzite forms a series with the more common Wulfenite, which contains molybdenum in place of the tungsten. It is very similar to Wulfenite, though often with a paler color, (although Stolzite may also be as brightly colored as Wulfenite). Stolzite specimens are rare to encounter and generally come from localities no longer producing, making this mineral a highly desirable and expensive classic among minerals. Stolzite is named in honor of Czech mineralogist Joseph A. Stolz (1803-1896).

Crystal Forms & Aggregates

Other ID Marks

Striking Features

Color, crystal habits, and mode of occurence.

Environment

Polymorphs

Uses

Stolzite is a rare and desirable collectors mineral. It is a minor ore of tungsten in tungsten deposits.

Noteworthy Localities

One of the finest Stolzite localities, having produced some of the largest, brightly-lustered, cream-colored crystals, is the Sainte-Lucie Mine, in St Léger-de-Peyre, France. Small orange crystals come from the Clara Mine, Oberwolfach, Black Forest, Germany; and dense aggregates came from Zinnwald, Saxony, Germany; and right across the border in the same deposit in Cínovec, Bohemia, Czech Republic.

In Australia, bright orange crystals were famous at Broken Hill, New South Wales; and small crystals were found in the Kara Mines, Hampshire, Tasmania.

In the U.S., exceptional, pseudo-octahedral crystals of Stolzite, that were once actually thought to be Scheelite, came from Darwin, Inyo Co., California. Thin platy crystals come from the Fat Jack Mine, near Crown King, Yavapai Co., Arizona; and small white crystals from the Black Pine Mine, Philipsburg District, Granite Co., Montana.

Common Mineral Associations

Photos

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Crystal forms

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Dipyramidal
Thick Tabular