Cerussite Mineral Data

General Cerussite Information

Chemical Formula:

PbCO3

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 267.21 gm

Lead 77.54 % Pb 83.53 % PbO

Carbon 4.49 % C 16.47 % CO₂

Oxygen 17.96 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Pb(CO₃)

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 400 BC

Locality:

Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

From the Latin, cerussa, meaning "white lead."

Name Pronunciation:

Cerussite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 36558

PDF 47-1734

White Lead Ore

Cerussite Image

Images:

Cerussite

Comments: Transparent reticulated crystal of cerussite.
Location: Tsumeb Mine, Namibia. Scale: 5 cm.
© Dave Barthelmy

Images:

Hydrocerussite Cerussite

Comments: Platy crystals of milky white hydrocerussite covering cerussite.
Location: Tsumeb mine, Tsumeb, Namibia. Scale: 6 x 5 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Images:

Mimetite Cerussite

Comments: Creamy white crystal of cerussite measuring 11 x 22 mm in size nestled nicely in a vug which is lined by bright-yellow, lustrous, prismatic mimetite crystals. The mimetites average 5 mm in length.
Location: Tsumeb mine, Tsumeb, Namibia. Scale: 3.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 cm.
© Dan Weinrich

Images:

Cerussite

Comments: Jack-straw aggregate of reticulated, white cerussite. Former John Innes collection.
Location: Tsumeb, Namibia. Scale: 9.75 x 5 x 2.5.
© John Schneider

Cerussite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.6158:1:0.7292

Cell Dimensions:

a = 5.195, b = 8.436, c = 6.152, Z = 4; V = 269.61 Den(Calc)= 6.58

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal H-M Symbol (2/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: Pmcn

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.593(1), 3.498(0.5), 2.487(0.32),

Forms:

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Forms: ( 0 1 0) ( 1 1 0) ( 0 2 1)

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Physical Properties of Cerussite

Cleavage:

{110} Distinct, {021} Distinct

Color:

Colorless, White, Gray, Blue, Green.

Density:

6.58

Diaphaneity:

Transparent to subtranslucent

Fracture:

Brittle - Conchoidal - Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.

Habit:

Crystalline - Coarse - Occurs as well-formed coarse sized crystals.

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Habit:

Reticulate - Fibers or columns cross in "Net-like" crystalline growths (e.g. cerrusite).

Hardness:

3-3.5 - Calcite-Copper Penny

Luminescence:

Fluorescent, Short UV=orange, yellow white, Long UV=yellowish.

Luster:

Adamantine

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Cerussite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.026 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.026 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1496,KPDmeas= 0.1496,KC= 0.1458
Ncalc = 1.96

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.803, b=2.074, g=2.076, bire=0.2730, 2V(Calc)=8, 2V(Meas)=8-14. Dispersion relatively strong.

Calculated Properties of Cerussite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=5.52 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Cerussite =6.58 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.17
Boson Index = 0.83

Photoelectric:

PE_Cerussite=1,420.03 barns/electron
U=PE_Cerussite x rElectron Density=7,832.85 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Cerussite is Not Radioactive

Cerussite Classification

Dana Class:

14.01.03.04 (14)Anhydrous Carbonates

(14.01)with Simple Formula A+ CO3

(14.01.03)Aragonite Group (Orthorhombic: Pmcn)

14.01.03.01 Aragonite CaCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

14.01.03.02 Witherite BaCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

14.01.03.03 Strontianite SrCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

14.01.03.04 Cerussite PbCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

05.AB.15 05 - CARBONATES (NITRATES)

05.A - Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O

05.AB -Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates

05.AB.15 Cerussite PbCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

05.AB.15 Aragonite CaCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

05.AB.15 Strontianite SrCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

05.AB.15 Witherite BaCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

Other Cerussite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Mason68)

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Cerussite

PbCO3
Dana No: 14.01.03.04 Strunz No: 05.AB.15
Locality:

Notes:

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