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Cerussite
Current inventory:  3 gems
 

Cerussite

  
Cerussite is named from the Latin word cerussa, meaning white lead.

Discovered in 400 BC;   IMA status:  Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

 

Chemistry

 

 

Chemical Formula:

PbCO3

 

Lead Carbonate

Molecular Weight:

267.21. gm

Composition:

Lead

77.54 %

Pb

83.53 %

PbO

 

Carbon

4.49 %

C

16.47 %

CO2

 

Oxygen

17.96 %

O

 

 

 

 

100.00 %

 

100.00 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

 

 

Classification

   

   

Mineral Classification:

Carbonates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

5/B.04-40

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

5.AB.15

 

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H
2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M
2+) carbonates

Related to:

Aragonite Group.

Members of Group:

Aragonite Group: Aragonite, Cerussite, Strontianite, Witherite

Varieties:

Argentiferous Cerussite, Chrome-Cerussite, Zincian Cerussite

Synonyms:

Acrusite, Black Lead Ore, Carbonate of Lead, Cerusite, Lead Spar, White Lead, White Lead Ore

 

 

Crystal Data

   

   

Crystallography:

Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal

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.

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.

 

 

Physical Properties

   

 

Cleavage:

Distinct on {110} and {021}, Poor on {010} and {012}

Fracture:

Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Very Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

3.0 - 3.5

Density:

6.53 - 6.58 (g/cm3)

Luminescence:

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.

 

 

Optical Properties

   

   

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)

Dispersion:

0.055; Relatively Strong; r > v (greater than diamond)

Pleochroism:

None

 

 

Occurances

   

   

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

Year Discovered:

400 BC

View mineral photos:

Cerussite Mineral Photos and Locations

 

 

More Information

   

   

 

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

 

 


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.
 

  
Cerussite gems for sale:

Cerussite-001
please click on picture

Gem:

Cerussite

Stock #:

CERUS-001

Weight:

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.

Cerussite-001
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.


Cerussite-002
please click on picture

Gem:

Cerussite

Stock #:

CERUS-002

Weight:

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.

Cerussite-002
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.


Cerussite-003

Gem:

Cerussite

Stock #:

CERUS-003

Weight:

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.

Cerussite-003

An eye clean, very well faceted Cerussite. The Portuguese pavilion gives lots of facet sparkle.

 

 


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