Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
wulfenite

wulfenite

9.9
A yellow, orange, or brown mineral that people mine to get molybdenum
  • noun
  • /ˈwʊlfəˌnaɪt/
  • Specialized
: wulfenita
  • Miners extract wulfenite as a source of molybdenum for various industrial uses.

Examples

  • A specimen of wulfenite can display brilliant orange-red tabular crystals.

  • The discovery of wulfenite crystals attracted mineral collectors from around the world.

  • The geologist discovered a rare wulfenite specimen in the cave.

  • Many collectors seek out wulfenite for their mineral displays.

  • Many collectors seek out wulfenite for its striking colors in mineral displays.

  • A specimen of wulfenite is prized for its bright orange and yellow hues.

  • Miners extract wulfenite from the earth due to its value as an ore of molybdenum.

Surface Forms

wulfenite singular
wulfenites plural

Morphology

wulfenite = wulfen + ite

The word is a specialized mineral name formed from a proper name plus the mineral-forming suffix '-ite'; knowing the parts does not allow a B1 learner to infer the meaning.

Etymology

Wulfenite is named after the Austrian scientist Wulfen, and the ending -ite means 'rock' or 'mineral'. So wulfenite literally means 'Wulfen's mineral', which is a helpful way to remember it is a yellow to orange mineral often used as an ore of molybdenum.