Mineral - Cerussite
Cerussite
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Carbonates
Toxicity
middle
Formula
Pb[CO₃]
Unit Cell
a=5.18 b=8.49 c=6.14 Z=4
Physical Properties
Hardness
3 - 3.5
Streak
white
Density
Very Heavy (>6)
Cleavage
Distinct after {110} und {021}, indistinct after {010} und {012}
Fracture
conchoidal
Tenacity
Brittle
Optical Properties
Color
whitecolorless
Birefringence
0.273
Luster
Vitreous,
Greasy,
Adamantine
Transparency
translucent,
transparent
Pleochroism
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
orthorhombic
Point Group
orthorhombic-dipyramidal - 2/m 2/m 2/m
Space Group
Pnma (62)
Habit
prismatic, pyramidal, skeletal, tabular
Formation
Oxidation zone of lead deposits, usually caused by the reaction of carbonated solutions on primary lead minerals such as Galena (PbS)
Paragenesis
Twinning
Contact twins and pseudohexagonal rotational twins after {110}; V-shaped to heart-shaped contact twins after {130}
Rarity
Common
Synonyms
Cerussite
Composition
Elements
Mass
CO₂
16.64
PbO
83.27
Namibia (Palache et al. 1952)
Groups and Members
Aragonite-Group