Cerussite Mineral Data

Cerussite Mineral Data +

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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."

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:

Cerussite Hydrocerussite

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

Images:

Cerussite Mimetite

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 - DipyramidalH-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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Crystal Structure:

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Chevrier G , Giester G , Heger G , Jarosch D , Wildner M , Zemann J , Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie , 199 (1992) p.67-74, Neutron single-crystal refinement of cerussite, PbCO3, and comparison with other, aragonite-type carbonates, Locality: Pribram, Czech Republic

Physical Properties of Cerussite

Cleavage:

[110] Distinct, [021] Distinct

Color:

Colorless, White, Gray, Blue, Green.

Density:

6.58

Diaphaniety:

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:

None.

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

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:

r_electron=5.52 gm/cc
note: r_Cerussite=6.58 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.17194
Boson Index = 0.82806

Photoelectric:

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

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Cerussite is Not Radioactive

Cerussite Classification

Dana Class:

14.1.3.4 (14)Anhydrous Carbonates

(14.1)with Simple Formula A+ CO3

(14.1.3)Aragonite Group (Orthorhombic: Pmcn)

14.1.3.1 Aragonite CaCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

14.1.3.2 Witherite BaCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

14.1.3.3 Strontianite SrCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

14.1.3.4 Cerussite PbCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

V/B.04-40 V - Nitrates, Carbonates and Borates

V/B - Waterfree carbonates [CO3]2- without unfamiliar anions

V/B.04 - Aragonite group

V/B.04-10 Aragonite CaCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

V/B.04-20 Strontianite SrCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

V/B.04-30 Witherite BaCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

V/B.04-40 Cerussite PbCO3 Pmcn 2/m 2/m 2/m

V/B.04-50 Alstonite BaCa(CO3)2 P1 or P1 Tri

V/B.04-60 Barytocalcite BaCa(CO3)2 P 2₁ 2

V/B.04-65 Olekminskite Sr(Sr,Ca,Ba)(CO3)2 P 3₂1 3 2

V/B.04-70 Paralstonite BaCa(CO3)2 P 3₂1 3 2

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: 14.1.3.4 Strunz No: V/B.04-40
Locality:

Notes: