Stolzite is a rare lead tungstate mineral typically found in the oxidized zones of hydrothermal lead-tungsten deposits. It is most recognized for its distinct, often flattened, orange-to-red tetragonal crystals that can be easily confused with the more common Wulfenite.
Is this stolzite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch stolzite with a known reference. Stolzite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: resinous, subadamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: reddish brown, yellowish brown, brown, greenish brown, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: crystalline, granular, tabular.
Often confused with
Stolzite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside stolzite
Minerals reported to co-occur with stolzite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbWO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 8.34 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Resinous, subadamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent, transparent in thin pieces
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Crystalline, granular, tabular
- Cleavage
- Imperfect on {001}; indistinct on {011}
- Fluorescence
- Weak yellow under SW UV; weak orange under LW UV
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An uncommon mineral in the oxidized zone of hydrothermal tungsten-bearing lead deposits
Where rockhounds find stolzite
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Reef mine, Huachuca Mountains, the Primos mine, Little Dragoon Mountains, and the Cohen mine, Dragoon Mountains, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- Fat Jack mine, Bradshaw Mountains, Yavapai Co., Arizona, USA
- Thompson mine, Darwin district, Inyo Co., California, USA
- Emma mine, Little Cottonwood Canyon district, Salt Lake Co., Utah, USA
- Cínovec (Zinnwald), Czech Republic
- Bleiberg, Carinthia, Austria
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An uncommon mineral in the oxidized zone of hydrothermal tungsten-bearing lead deposits. If you start seeing raspite, cerussite, anglesite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline, granular, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Montana, Utah. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify stolzite?+
Where is stolzite found?+
Can I find stolzite in the United States?+
Is stolzite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like stolzite?+
What minerals are found with stolzite?+
What kind of rock does stolzite form in?+
What is stolzite used for?+
Find stolzite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
