Stolzite, Quartz, Epidote, Fluorite Dimensions: 400 mm; Field of view: 50 mm Locality: Kara No. 1 Pit, Kara Mines, Hampshire mining district, Burnie City, Tasma — Photo: Ralph S. Bottrill · CC BY 3.0
Stolzite
Lead tungstate — the tetragonal dimorph of raspite, companion to its molybdate cousin wulfenite.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Stolzite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the tungstate class, with the chemical formula Pb(WO₄).
It crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system (space group I4_1/a). It is a member of the Scheelite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2.5–3; specific gravity 8.34; typically yellow or brown or gray; White streak; Resinous, subadamantine luster; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Sz, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1845.
Occurs as an uncommon mineral in the oxidized zone of hydrothermal tungsten-bearing lead deposits.
It is found associated with Raspite, cerussite, anglesite, pyromorphite, mimetite.
The mineral was named to honor Dr. Joseph Alexis Stolz (1803–1896), Teplice, Czech Republic, who provided the first specimen.
Collections: Collector Favorites, Rare & Remarkable.