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Identity HelpLead natural formation

28th Jul 2018 09:42 UTCBrendon MacLeod

07212230017055978273946.jpg
Hi,

I recently acquired this specimen from someone who had no idea how or where it formed. I am certain that it is lead but I have never seen lead in this habit and have no idea if it is a natural formation or something else. Almost certain this is an Australian specimen.

Any comments would be appreciated.

28th Jul 2018 11:29 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

Why do you think it is lead?

28th Jul 2018 11:34 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

01363820016046149714827.jpg
Reminds me of this stuff they are selling on ebay. Electrolytic magnesium.

28th Jul 2018 11:55 UTCThomas Lühr Expert

It looks indeed very similar to that photo, shown in mineralienatlas.de as lab-grown lead


https://www.mineralienatlas.de/VIEWmaxFULL.php/param/1186913552-Blei.jpg


Reiner, i think it's impossible to confuse lead with magnesium. The SG is toooo much different ;))

28th Jul 2018 13:40 UTCBrendon MacLeod

Specific gravity, luster, hardness and melting point all suggest lead. Could this have come from a smelter maybe? Looks similar to the photo of lab grown but the luster is a little different.

28th Jul 2018 14:08 UTCKevin Hean

I have seen similar lead but very small quantities from an Anodizing Plant .

Normally the cathode in the bath is Lead and the anode is obviously the Aluminium , but if reversed there could be a build up of Lead,

so I think Reiner may be on the right track with an electrolytic deposit.

28th Jul 2018 18:41 UTCPavel Kartashov Manager

This is obviously unnatural item. And it was produced very recently - this year. Pure cast lead usually darkened very soon in couple days. If it wasn't darkened during more than year it is impure lead, faster of all some tin-lead alloy.

Colour of the sample also hints this - pure fresh cast lead is more bluish.


Similar shape aggregates able to form during melting of babbit inserts into huge bearings of heavy quarry technics.

29th Jul 2018 09:31 UTCBrendon MacLeod

Hi Pavel,

This is definitely more than 12 months old. Would nickel have the same effect on the color of lead? If so maybe Kevin and Thomas are on the right track and this may have come from an electroplating or anodizing workshop or similar?
 
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