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Cerussite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
This page kindly sponsored by Chris Whitney-Smith
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About CerussiteHide

Formula:
PbCO3
Colour:
Colourless, white, gray, blue, or green; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Adamantine, Vitreous, Resinous, Pearly, Dull, Earthy
Hardness:
3 - 3½
Specific Gravity:
6.53 - 6.57
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1845 by Wilhelm Karl von Haidinger from the Latin, cerussa, meaning "white lead."
Aragonite Group.

Cerussite is a lead carbonate mineral, usually found in the oxidized zone of lead ore deposits. It is a very common weathering product of galena and other lead ore minerals.




Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
934
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:934:4
GUID
(UUID V4):
246434bf-9cb3-4a73-8474-bf8f8c6224d2

IMA Classification of CerussiteHide

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Pb(CO3)

Classification of CerussiteHide

5.AB.15

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
A : Carbonates without additional anions, without H2O
B : Alkali-earth (and other M2+) carbonates
14.1.3.4

14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)
11.9.1

11 : Carbonates
9 : Carbonates of Pb, Zr and Th

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

SymbolSourceReference
CerIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
CerWhitney & Evans (2010)Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371
CssThe Canadian Mineralogist (2019)The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download

Pronunciation of CerussiteHide

Pronunciation:
PlayRecorded byCountry
Jolyon RalphUnited Kingdom

Physical Properties of CerussiteHide

Adamantine, Vitreous, Resinous, Pearly, Dull, Earthy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, white, gray, blue, or green; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 - 3½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Very brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {110} and {021} distinct; on {010} and {012} in traces.
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
6.53 - 6.57 g/cm3 (Measured)    6.558 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of CerussiteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.803 nβ = 2.074 nγ = 2.076
2V:
Measured: 8° to 14°, Calculated: 8°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.273
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Dispersion:
relatively strong
Optical Extinction:
X = c; Y = b; Z = a.
Reflectivity:
WavelengthR1R2
400nm10.1%15.3%
420nm9.3%15.0%
440nm8.6%14.3%
460nm8.6%14.1%
470nm8.6%13.9%
480nm8.5%13.7%
500nm8.4%13.6%
520nm8.4%13.5%
540nm8.3%13.4%
546nm8.3%13.4%
560nm8.3%13.3%
580nm8.3%13.3%
689nm8.3%13.3%
600nm8.3%13.2%
620nm8.3%13.0%
640nm8.2%12.9%
650nm8.2%12.9%
660nm8.2%12.8%
680nm8.2%12.7%
700nm8.1%12.5%

Reflectance graph
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Top of box is 100%. Peak reflectance is 15.3%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red

Chemistry of CerussiteHide

Mindat Formula:
PbCO3

Crystallography of CerussiteHide

Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.179(1) Å, b = 8.492(3) Å, c = 6.141(2) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.61 : 1 : 0.723
Unit Cell V:
270.08 Γ…Β³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystal morphology extremely varied. Simple crystals often tabular {010} and elongated [001] or [100]. Also equant or dipyramidal and then pseudo-hexagonal. Rarely acicular [001] or very thin tabular {001}. {010} and {0kl} usually striated [100]; {111} often striated [110] or [112]. Reticular twin aggregates common. Massive, granular, dense, compact. Stalactitic at times; powdery to earthy. Fibrous rare.
Twinning:
Almost universal. Most commonly on {110}, as twin lamellae or as contact twin types producing stellate pseudo-hexagonal groups or reticulated aggregates. On {130} less common, mainly as contact twins with a heart-shaped outline. Both laws may occur simultaneously.
Comment:
Non-standard space group setting (Pmcn). Other source gives cell parameters 5.173, 8.48, 6.13 A.

Crystallographic forms of CerussiteHide

Crystal Atlas:
Image Loading
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Cerussite no.48 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cerussite no.63 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cerussite no.140 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cerussite no.157 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cerussite no.261 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Cerussite no.460 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
3d models and HTML5 code kindly provided by www.smorf.nl.

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Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0018859CerussiteYe Y, Smyth J R, Boni P (2012) Crystal structure and thermal expansion of aragonite-group carbonates by single-crystal X-ray diffraction American Mineralogist 97 707-7122012Tsumeb, Namibia0300
0006304CerussiteAntao S M, Hassan I (2009) The orthorhombic structure of CaCO3, SrCO3, PbCO3 and BaCO3: Linear structural trends The Canadian Mineralogist 47 1245-12552009synthetic0293
0017676CerussiteColby M, LaCoste L (1933) The crystal structure of Cerussite _cod_database_code 1010956 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 84 299-30919330293
0011016CerussiteChevrier G, Giester G, Heger G, Jarosch D, Wildner M, Zemann J (1992) Neutron single-crystal refinement of cerussite, PbCO3, and comparison with other aragonite-type carbonates Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 199 67-741992Pribram, Czech Republic0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
3.593 Γ…(100)
3.498 Γ…(43)
3.074 Γ…(24)
2.522 Γ…(20)
2.487 Γ…(32)
2.081 Γ…(27)
1.859 Γ…(21)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Geological Setting:
Commonly occurs in the upper oxidized zones of base metal deposits, especially lead-silver deposits.

Type Occurrence of CerussiteHide

Synonyms of CerussiteHide

Other Language Names for CerussiteHide

Varieties of CerussiteHide

Chrome-CerussiteVariety of Cerussite. Not properly Diagnosed yet. Claimed to be a mixture of Cerussite and Crocoite in Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals.

Probably not due to chromium content, which is usually <100ppm. The Yellow color has been proposed to be produced by ...
Silver-bearing CerussiteA silver-bearing variety of cerussite.
Usually cerussite with tiny inclusions of silver minerals (acanthite, silver, chlorargyrite, ...).
Zinc-bearing CerussiteAragonite group. A zincian variety of Cerussite.
Originally reported from Monteponi Mine, Iglesias, Carbonia-Iglesias Province, Sardinia, Italy.

Relationship of Cerussite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Other Members of this group:
AragoniteCaCO3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
StrontianiteSrCO3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
WitheriteBaCO3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Forms a series with:

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
1,272 photos of Cerussite associated with MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
1,070 photos of Cerussite associated with GalenaPbS
675 photos of Cerussite associated with BaryteBaSO4
581 photos of Cerussite associated with QuartzSiO2
574 photos of Cerussite associated with AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
508 photos of Cerussite associated with PyromorphitePb5(PO4)3Cl
454 photos of Cerussite associated with SmithsoniteZnCO3
428 photos of Cerussite associated with LinaritePbCu(SO4)(OH)2
369 photos of Cerussite associated with AnglesitePbSO4
333 photos of Cerussite associated with MimetitePb5(AsO4)3Cl

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

5.AB.Ε kΓ‘chaiteCaCo(CO3)2Trig. 3 : R3
5.AB.05CalciteCaCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
5.AB.05GaspΓ©iteNiCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
5.AB.05MagnesiteMgCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
5.AB.05OtaviteCdCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
5.AB.05RhodochrositeMnCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
5.AB.05SideriteFeCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
5.AB.05SmithsoniteZnCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
5.AB.05SpherocobaltiteCoCO3Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3c
5.AB.05 vaParakutnohorite
5.AB.10AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2Trig. 3 : R3
5.AB.10DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2Trig. 3 : R3
5.AB.10KutnohoriteCaMn2+(CO3)2Trig. 3 : R3
5.AB.10MinrecorditeCaZn(CO3)2Trig. 3 : R3
5.AB.15AragoniteCaCO3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
5.AB.15StrontianiteSrCO3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
5.AB.15WitheriteBaCO3Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
5.AB.20VateriteCaCO3Hex. 6/mmm (6/m 2/m 2/m) : P63/mmc
5.AB.25HuntiteCaMg3(CO3)4Trig. 3 2 : R3 2
5.AB.30NorsethiteBaMg(CO3)2Trig. 3 2 : R3 2
5.AB.35AlstoniteBaCa(CO3)2Tric.
5.AB.40OlekminskiteSr(Sr,Ca,Ba)(CO3)2Trig. 3 2 : P3 2 1
5.AB.40ParalstoniteBaCa(CO3)2Trig. 3 2 : P3 2 1
5.AB.45BarytocalciteBaCa(CO3)2Mon. 2/m : P21/m
5.AB.50Carbocernaite(Ca,Na)(Sr,Ce,Ba)(CO3)2Orth. mm2
5.AB.55BenstoniteBa6Ca6Mg(CO3)13Trig. 3 : R3
5.AB.60JuangodoyiteNa2Cu(CO3)2Mon. 2/m : P21/b

Fluorescence of CerussiteHide

Occasionally fluorescent under SW and MW UV lights showing a yellow color. Yellow/white under SW UV light, but less intense.

Other InformationHide

Thermal Behaviour:
Breaks down to a basic carbonate at about 300Β°, which, in turn, decomposes to PbO at about 500Β° (?).
According to Grisafe & White (1964) cerussite decomposes:
- at ca. 204 Β°C, according to reaction: 3PbCO3 β‡Œ 2Pb2O(CO3) + CO2
Further reactions:
- at ca. 283 Β°C: 2Pb3O(CO3)2 β‡Œ 3Pb2O(CO3) + CO2
- at 373 Β°C: 3Pb2O(CO3)β‡Œ 2Pb3O2(CO3) + CO2
- at 435 Β°C: Pb3O2(CO3) β‡Œ 3PbO + CO2
Notes:
Soluble in dilute HNO3 with effervescence.

Occurs as alteration pseudomorphs after anglesite, phosgenite, leadhillite, caledonite, hydrocerussite, bournonite, linarite, pyromorphite, vanadinite. Also occurs as incrustation or substitution pseudomorphs after calcite and sphalerite.
Pseudomorphs of pyromorphite, minium, malachite, quartz, galena, limonite, calcite, siderite, phosgenite, dolomite and chrysocolla after crystals of cerussite have been observed.
Health Risks:
Contains lead - wash hands after handling, avoid inhaling dust when breaking.
Industrial Uses:
Ore of lead, and often also of silver.

Cerussite in petrologyHide

An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.

Internet Links for CerussiteHide

References for CerussiteHide

Reference List:

Localities for CerussiteHide

This 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.

Locality ListShow

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