Wulfenite on Hematite – Glassy Yellow-Orange Tabular Crystals on Black Botryoidal Matrix

A visually compelling wulfenite specimen from the Mammoth-Saint Anthony Mine, an increasingly uncommon Arizona classic, featuring a rich scattering of delicate, glass-like tabular crystals across a dark botryoidal hematite matrix. The contrast is exceptional: transparent golden-orange wulfenite plates appear suspended over a sparkling black, rounded surface, creating a refined and highly graphic display. The wulfenite crystals are thin, sharply tabular, and beautifully transparent, with a vivid yellow-orange to amber coloration. Their clarity is especially attractive, giving the crystals a fragile, glassy quality as light passes cleanly through the plates. Many of the crystals show crisp square to rectangular outlines, sharp edges, and bright reflective faces. The largest crystal, approximately 1.3 cm, is prominently positioned near the right edge of the display face and provides a strong focal point among the many smaller plates. The matrix is equally important to the specimen’s character. It consists of dark, glistening black botryoidal hematite with a finely sparkling surface texture. This hematite ground gives the piece a dramatic visual depth and makes the warm color of the wulfenite appear even more saturated. Areas of ocher-yellow to brown matrix on the reverse and margins add natural color variation and reinforce the classic oxidized-zone association. The overall display face is richly populated, with dozens of wulfenite crystals distributed across the specimen rather than isolated in only one pocket. Some lie flat against the hematite, while others project at slight angles, catching light along their edges and producing a lively, jewel-like sparkle. The finest crystals retain the delicate, transparent “windowpane” character highly prized in wulfenite from this district. This is an elegant Mammoth-Saint Anthony wulfenite, distinguished by its abundance of glassy tabular crystals, vivid yellow-orange color, strong contrast on black botryoidal hematite, and classic Arizona provenance. Its delicate crystal habit and luminous clarity give it excellent cabinet presence and make it a sophisticated representative of this historic locality. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eunkkdO7JBg