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| Cerussite is named
from the
Latin word cerussa, meaning white lead.
| Discovered
in 400 BC;
IMA
status:
Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered) |
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Composition: |
Lead |
77.54 % |
Pb |
83.53 % |
PbO |
|
Carbon |
4.49 % |
C |
16.47 % |
CO2 |
|
Oxygen |
17.96 % |
O |
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|
100.00 % |
|
100.00 % |
= TOTAL OXIDE |
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Classification
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Mineral
Classification: |
Carbonates
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Strunz 8th
Ed. ID:
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5/B.04-40
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Nickel-Strunz 10th
Ed. ID:
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5.AB.15
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5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional
anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+)
carbonates
|
Related
to: |
Aragonite
Group.
|
Members
of Group: |
Aragonite
Group: Aragonite, Cerussite,
Strontianite, Witherite
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Varieties: |
Argentiferous Cerussite,
Chrome-Cerussite, Zincian Cerussite
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Synonyms: |
Acrusite,
Black Lead Ore, Carbonate of Lead, Cerusite, Lead Spar,
White Lead, White Lead Ore
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Crystal
Data
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Crystallography:
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Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal
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Crystal
Habit:
|
Crystals,
to 0.6 m, are tabular, equant to elongated, or pseudohexagonal
dipyramidal, exhibiting many combinations. Also granular,
pulverulent, stalactitic, as randomly intergrown prismatic
aggregates, rarely fibrous, massive.
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Twinning:
|
Common;
as simple or cyclic contact twins, producing stellate
pseudohexagonal or reticulated composites; as contact
twins producing heart-shaped composites. Both laws may
occur in one aggregate.
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Physical
Properties
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Cleavage: |
Distinct
on {110} and {021}, Poor on {010} and {012}
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Fracture: |
Conchoidal
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Tenacity:
|
Very
Brittle
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Moh's
Hardness: |
3.0
- 3.5 |
Density:
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6.53
- 6.58 (g/cm3)
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Luminescence:
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Fluorescent.
May
fluoresce yellow to golden-yellow or white under LW UV,
also under X-rays. |
Radioactivity:
|
Not
Radioactive |
Other: |
Soluble in dilute HNO3 with effervescence.
|
Health
Warning: |
CAUTION:
Contains Lead. Wash hands after handling. Do not lick or ingest; do not inhale
dust when breaking. Do not grind dry. |
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Optical
Properties
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Color: |
Colorless, White, pale
Yellow, smoky to dark Gray, Blue, Green, Black with
inclusions |
Transparency: |
Transparent
to Translucent |
Luster: |
Adamantine, Vitreous, Resinous, Pearly, Dull, Earthy
|
Refractive
Index: |
1.804
- 2.079 Biaxial ( - ) |
Birefringence: |
0.2740 (very high)
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Dispersion: |
0.055;
Relatively Strong; r > v (greater than diamond)
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Pleochroism: |
None
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Occurances
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Geological
Setting: |
Common
in the oxidized zone of lead deposits, where it may
constitute an important ore. |
Common
Associations: |
Anglesite,
Galena, Limonite, Malachite, Phosgenite, Pyromorphite,
Silver, Smithsonite |
Common
Impurities: |
None
|
Type
Locality: |
Vicenza Province, Veneto, Italy
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Year
Discovered: |
400
BC |
View
mineral photos: |
Cerussite
Mineral Photos and Locations |
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More
Information
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|
Mindat.org
Webmineral.com
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Cerussite is
a very rare and very beautiful gem that is a lead carbonate. It is a member of the
Aragonite group of minerals that also includes Aragonite
and Witherite.
A Cerussite
gem can be as beautiful as a diamond since it has
very high dispersion (greater than a diamond), is
usually colorless and has an adamantine luster. Its
high dispersion, high luster and high density are due
to its lead content. Just as leaded crystal glass has
more sparkle and brilliance because of its lead content,
so does Cerussite. Cerussite crystals are abundant but
Cerussite is one of the most difficult gems to facet
due to its softness (3.0-3.5), its brittleness and its
high heat sensitivity. Therefore, faceting Cerussite
is extremely difficult and time consuming. Many break
in the process. Few gem cutters have the time, patience,
skill and tender loving care to deal with faceting Cerussite.
Because of this, faceted Cerussite is one of the rarest
of all gems. The high cost of a faceted Cerussite
is mostly due to the cost of faceting, not the cost
of the rough material.
Two of
the most notable occurances of facetable Cerussite crystals
are Touissit mine, near Oujda, Morocco and Tsumeb, Namibia.
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Cerussite
gems for sale:
please click on picture
|
Gem:
|
Cerussite |
Stock
#:
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CERUS-001 |
Weight:
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11.2160
ct |
Size: |
11.22
x 11.15 x 7.47 mm |
Shape: |
"Twisted"
Pentagon |
Color: |
Colorless |
Clarity: |
Eye
Clean |
Origin: |
Tsumeb,
Namibia |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$590.00
[
Make an offer ] |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
|
please click on picture
|
Please
click on the pictures above for a larger view.
A
very large, bright and beautiful Cerussite cut
in a "twisted pentagon" cut.
This unique gem is eye clean, almost
loupe clean and has lots of color flash
and sparkle.
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please click on picture
|
Gem:
|
Cerussite |
Stock
#:
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CERUS-002 |
Weight:
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6.6610
ct |
Size: |
11.78
x 8.21 x 4.52 mm |
Shape: |
Cut-corner
rectangle |
Color: |
Colorless |
Clarity: |
VSI |
Origin: |
Tsumeb,
Namibia |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$320.00
[
Make an offer ] |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
|
please click on picture
|
Please
click on the pictures above for a larger view.
A
very nice, bright and beautiful colorless
Cerussite with lots of sparkle.
|
|
Gem:
|
Cerussite |
Stock
#:
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CERUS-003 |
Weight:
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1.5865
ct |
Size: |
5.98
x 3.64 mm |
Shape: |
Round
Portuguese |
Color: |
Nearly
Colorless, very slightly
yellow |
Clarity: |
Eye
clean |
Origin: |
Tsumeb,
Namibia |
Treatment: |
None
(natural) |
Price: |
$95.00
[
Make an offer ] |
Pictures
are of the actual gem offered for
sale. Gem images are magnified to
show detail. |
|
|
An
eye clean, very well faceted Cerussite.
The Portuguese pavilion gives lots of
facet sparkle.
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