Cerusita
Cerusita is a mineral with formula PbCO₃, in the Carbonatos group. This specimen comes from Les Dalles Mine, Mibladen, Midelt, Drâa-Tafilalet, Marruecos and joined the Terrium collection in 2019.
Description
UV-fluorescent yellow pyramidal cerussite as a coating on marmatite and galena.
About Cerusita
Cerussite is a lead carbonate that crystallises in the orthorhombic system and typically forms in the oxidised zone of galena deposits. In Mibladen it frequently occurs as pyramidal crystals or twins, often yellow due to impurities or inclusions, and intense fluorescence is characteristic of specimens with high lead content and well-ordered structures.
About the locality
Mibladen is one of the most prolific cerussite localities in the world. Located in Morocco's lead-zinc mineralised belt, it has produced for decades specimens sought by collectors for their transparency, crystallisation and associations with barite, galena or anglesite. Mining has been both industrial and artisanal, with areas of workings that continue to yield high-quality specimens.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0148
- Composition
- PbCO₃
- Name
- Cerusita
- Group
- Carbonatos
- Category
- Lucimera
- Associations
- Barita, Marmatita, Galena
- Mine
- Les Dalles Mine
- District / Municipality
- Mibladen
- Province
- Midelt
- Region
- Drâa-Tafilalet
- Country
- Marruecos
- Size (cm)
- 5.3 x 3.2 x 2.2
- Weight
- 88.7 g
- Acquired
- 2019
- Ex-collection
- Francisco Becerra
- Etymology
- From the Latin "cerussa", the name for lead carbonate historically used as a white pigment.
- Quality
- Buena
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Abellaíta — España
- Acantita (Paramórfica tras Argentita) — Marruecos
- Andersonita — España
- Andradita (Melanita) — Marruecos
- Apatito — Marruecos
- Aragonito (Pantojo) — España
- Aragonito (Azul (Toralina)) — España
- Aragonito — Italia