Stolzite - Encyclopedia

    Class : Sulphates, chromates, molybdates
    Subclass : Tungstates
    Crystal system : Tetragonal
    Chemistry : PbWO₄
    Rarity : Rare

Stolzite is a rare oxidation mineral of lead deposits containing tungsten, and tin-tungsten deposits with accessory galena. It forms a discontinuous isomorphic series with wulfenite, the intermediate term being chillagite. It owes its name to Joseph Alexander Stolz, who was first interested in this mineral. Like wulfenite, stolzite frequently occurs in thick, flattened square tablets, more rarely in more or less acute octahedra. Its luster is adamantine and its color variablen: yellowish brown to greyish brown, sometimes red to orange. Often confused with wulfenite, although its colors are more vivid, it was recently considered very rare. It is a mineral sought after by collectors.

The largest crystals in the world come from the small lead mine in Sainte-Lucie (Lozère, France) : the brown-yellow tabular specimens measure up to 6 cm across. The kaolin quarries at Echassières also produced millimetric crystals.

Stolzite has no twinned crystals known.

No scam known for this mineral.