Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (2 online) Mindat Auctions

Hydrocerussite

Big Photo

Torr Works Quarry (Merehead Quarry), Cranmore, Somerset, England, UK
© Ian Jones

Show Hydrocerussite Photos (64)
Formula:
Pb
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
System:TrigonalColour:White or grey; ...
Hardness:3½
Name:In allusion to the composition, being a HYDRated lead carbonate, similar to cerussite.


Hydrocerussite is a secondary mineral usually found in oxidized lead ore deposits.

A closely related mineral is Plumbonacrite.

Classification of Hydrocerussite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/C.08-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.BE.10

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
B : Carbonates with additional anions, without H2O
E : With Pb, Bi
Dana 8th edition ID:16a.2.2.1

16a : ANHYDROUS CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
2 : (AB)3(XO3)2Zq
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.9.2

11 : Carbonates
9 : Carbonates of Pb, Zr and Th
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-1969.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Hydrocerussite

Type Locality:Långban, Filipstad, Värmland, Sweden
Geological Setting of type material:Metamorphosed Mn-Fe deposit.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Lead

Physical Properties of Hydrocerussite

Lustre:Adamantine, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:White or grey; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {0001}.
Density (measured):6.8 g/cm3
Density (calculated):6.94 g/cm3

Crystallography of Hydrocerussite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Morphology:Crystals steep pyramidal {h0h1} with {0001} very small at times. Thin scales with a hexagonal presentation and flattened {0001}; also thick tabular {0001}.

Optical Data of Hydrocerussite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 2.090 nε = 1.940
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.150

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High

Chemical Properties of Hydrocerussite

Formula:
Pb
 
3
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
(OH)
 
2
Essential elements:C, H, O, Pb
All elements listed in formula:C, H, O, Pb

Relationship of Hydrocerussite to other Species

Common Associates:
ParalaurioniteMendipiteMatlockiteLeadhilliteCerussite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.BE.05Shannonite
Pb
 
2
[O|CO
 
3
]
5.BE.15Plumbonacrite
Pb
 
5
O(OH)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
5.BE.20Phosgenite
Pb
 
2
[Cl
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
5.BE.25Bismutite
(BiO)
 
2
CO
 
3
5.BE.30Kettnerite
(BiO)Ca[F|CO
 
3
]
5.BE.35Beyerite
Ca(BiO)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.9.1Cerussite
PbCO
 
3
11.9.3Dundasite
PbAl
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
11.9.4Gysinite-(Nd)
Pb(Nd,La)[OH|(CO
 
3
)
 
2
] · H
 
2
O
11.9.5Schuilingite-(Nd)
PbCu(Nd,Gd,Sm,Y)(CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)·1.5H
 
2
O
11.9.6Tuliokite
Na
 
6
BaTh(CO
 
3
)
 
6
·6H
 
2
O
11.9.7Weloganite
Sr
 
3
Na
 
2
Zr(CO
 
3
)
 
6
·3H
 
2
O
11.9.8Sabinaite
Na
 
4
Zr
 
2
TiO
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4

Other Names for Hydrocerussite

Synonyms:
Hydrocerusite
Other Languages:
German:Hydrocerussit
Russian:Гидроцеруссит
Spanish:Hydrocerussita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in acids with effervescence.
Health Warning:Contains lead - always wash hands after handling. Do not lick.

References for Hydrocerussite

Reference List:Nordenskild (1877) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 3: 381.

Heddle (1889) Mineralogical Magazine: 8: 201 (as Plumbonacrite).

Flink (1901) Bull. Geol. Inst. Upsala: 5: 94.

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 202.

Spencer (1925) Mineralogical Magazine: 20: 80.

Aminoff (1926) Geologiska Föeningens I Stockholm. Förhandlinger, Stockholm: 48: 44.

Kokkoros, P. and Vassiliadis, K. (1953). Röntgenkristallographie von Hydrocerussit. Tschermaks Mineral. Petrogr. Mitt. 3, 298-304.

Voronova, A. A. and Vainshtein, B. K. (1964): An electron-diffraction study of the crystal structure of PbCO3PbO(H2O)2. Kristallografiya 9, 197-203. (in Russian).

Keller, P. (1977): Hydrocerussit von Tsumeb/Südwestafrika. Der Aufschluss, 28, 413-415.

Flemming, N. J.; Lopata, V. J.; Sanipelli, B. L.; Taylor, P. (1984): Thermal decomposition of basic lead carbonates: a comparison of hydrocerussite and plumbonacrite. Thermochim. Acta 81, 1-8.

Taylor, P. & Lopata, V. J. (1984): Stability and solubility relationships between some solids in the system lead oxide-carbon dioxide-water. Can. J. Chem. 62, 395-402.

Martinetto, P., M. Anne, E. Dooryhée, P. Walter and G. Tsoucaris (2002): Synthetic hydrocerussite, 2PbCO3•Pb(OH)2, by X-ray powder diffraction. Acta Cryst. C58, i82-i84. [possibly incorrect structure/space group; comment by Uwe Kolitsch]

Internet Links for Hydrocerussite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Hydrocerussite on Google
  • Look for Hydrocerussite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Hydrocerussite on Webmineral
  • Look for Hydrocerussite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Hydrocerussite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Hydrocerussite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Hydrocerussite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Hydrocerussite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Hydrocerussite specimens
  • Buy RARE Minerals from Rocks of Africa
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality low prices
  • Lapis Mineral Magazin
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • Rare and Unusual minerals at Mineralogical Research Company
  • Buy Minerals and Crystals from Crystalarium.com
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Find Hydrocerussite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Wilensky Fine Minerals
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Hydrocerussite

    Show Locality List (152 Items)
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 30th Nov 2009 02:29:47