THE MINERAL WOLFEITE

Dims: 2" x 1" x 1-3/8"

Wt: 2.87 oz

Big Fish River, Yukon, Canada

This little chunk of rock is hard to explain; I don't know how the person that found it knew what it was. First, the rock appears to be in a nodular type of form, with the outer surface colored black and polished to an almost waxy luster from weathering or water wear. When the "nodule" was broken open, the cross-section revealed that it was solid, containing red-brown fibrous crystals that are densely compact, with a pearly luster. Whoever found it must just know what to look for, or maybe it has something to do with the specimen's weight- it is pretty dense. All I know is that there aren't an awful lot of them around. The specimen is affixed to a small acrylic base with a hot-melt glue or rubber cement.

Dims: 1-7/8" x 1-3/8" x 1-1/8"

Wt: 3.1 oz

Big Fish River, Yukon, Canada

Wolfeite is likely identified according to its locality and its density, because the outsides of the specimens from the Big Fish River locality in Canada don't look at all like the insides! The specimen's exterior is somewhat nodular in form and seems to exhibit some concentric layering. It is basically black colored and it has some whitish patches that may denote weathering, and some rust staining. The interior is a different story, however; it consists of tightly-packed crystals that are almost fibrous in appearance, but make me think more that they would look like thin blades if they were loose. The interior's color is brown with just a hint of red, and the material seems to be translucent, although there is no way that light could penetrate the rough exterior. Some of these crystals span the height of the specimen, attaining lengths of 1-3/4 inches. I find this material to be rather interesting, especially with its deceiving coating.

Dims: 2.5" x 1.3" x 1.6" (6.4 x 3.3 x 4.1 cm)

Wt: 4.18 oz. (118.9 g)

Big Fish River, Yukon, Canada

This specimen consists of part of a Wolfeite "nodule" that has been broken open. Its outer surface has been worn relatively smooth and is coated with a thin layer of a dull, pale brown material that makes for a very deceiving appearance. The specimen's broken area, however, reveals the mineral's bladed crystal form and compact, radiating habit. It has a deep brown coloration and a bright, pearly luster, and could be translucent or even dimly transparent if the crystals were separated.

Dims:2.4x1.4x1.4" (6.1x3.6x3.6 cm)

Wt: 3.1oz. (87g)

Boundary Creek, Near Yukon/NWT Boundary, Canada

This specimen is half of a nodule of fibrous, radiating wolfeite crystals. Wolfeite crystals reach 1.2" (3.0cm) in length. The exterior of the nodule is coated with a rusty-brown alteration rind due to weathering. There is no significant damage to this specimen.