HYDROCERUSSITE

    Class : Carbonates, nitrates, borates
    Subclass : Hydrated carbonates
    Crystal system : Trigonal
    Chemistry : Pb3(CO3)2(OH)2
    Rarity : Uncommon

Hydrocerussite is an uncommon secondary mineral from the oxidation zones of lead deposits. It is also known in neoformation in ancient lead slags (Laurion, Greece). Its name reflects its chemical composition, from the Greek hudôr (water) and cerussite. Hydrocerussite occurs in hexagonal tabular crystals, more frequently in finely lamellar encrustations, rarely in pseudomorph after cerussite. It is colorless to white, sometimes slightly greenish. It is a very accessory ore of lead in certain deposits despite its rarity.

Main photo : Hydrocerussite from Sounion Cove, Lavrion, Greece © Gianfranco Ciccolini

Hydrocerussite from Torr Works Quarry, Somerset, England © Ian Jones
Hydrocerussite from Mammoth-St-Anthony, Arizona, USA © Daniel Evanich
Hydrocerussite from Menez-Plom, Côtes-d'Armor, France © Jean-Paul Berthe
Hydrocerussite pseudomorph after cerussite from Tsumeb, Namibia © Bruce Cairncross

Hydrocerussite in the World

The most beautiful specimens of hydrocerussite are crystals measuring 6 cm by 3 cm from the Shepton Mallet lead deposit (Somerset, England); the crystals are associated with calcite or in a ring of oxidation around the mendipite. In certain lead deposits in Scotland (Leadhills, Wanlockhead), hydrocerussite appears as encrustations in the galena. In the United States, the Mammoth-St-Anthony mine (Arizona) also produced good centimeter-sized crystals. Hydrocerussite also appears through the oxidation of lead minerals in more original contexts : encrusted on native lead in Langban (Sweden) and in the cavities of lead slag from Laurion (Greece).

Hydrocerussite in France

In France, hydrocerussite is found at Peyrebrune (Tarn), at St-Prix (Saône-et-Loire), at the Longefay mine (Rhône) as well as in the slag of Poullaouen (Finistère), Vialas (Lozère) and from Menez-Plom (Côtes-d’Armor).

Twinning

No twin known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : 3.5
Density : 6.8
Fracture : Irregular
Streak : White

TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 1.940 to 2.090
Birefringence : 0.150
Optical character : Uniaxial -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : Nitric acid, hydrochloric acid

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None

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