Cerusita Bullet Head
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 2001.
Description
Angkor Wat Temple. Cyclic-twinned crystal with bullet-shaped habit. Adamantine lustre.
History of this specimen
I consider it a "monster" that exceeds the market standard for weight and perfection. It represents one of the most coveted Mibladen varieties: the conical twin with surreal stepped growth. It is gem quality and strongly fluorescent, virtually aerial except for its discreet attachment to the near-indistinguishable micro-matrix of barite.
About Cerusita
Cerussite forms as a secondary mineral in the oxidised zone of lead-bearing hydrothermal veins. Its yellow colour is due to impurities or inclusions, and strong fluorescence is characteristic of specimens with high lead content and well-ordered structures.
About the locality
An absolute world reference for "Bullet Head" cerussite and stepped conical twins (scarce material). Commercial mining ceased long ago; even so, artisanal miners still recover specimens under difficult conditions, though old pieces of this calibre appear very rarely. Specimens with exotic morphology like this are characteristic of the scarce finds of the 1970s and 1980s. The mines in the area (including Les Dalles) exploit stratiform deposits hosted in Liassic limestones.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0201
- Composition
- PbCO₃
- Name
- Cerusita
- Variety
- Bullet Head
- Group
- Carbonatos
- Category
- Lucimera
- Associations
- Barita
- Mine
- Les Dalles Mine
- District / Municipality
- Mibladen
- Province
- Midelt
- Region
- Drâa-Tafilalet
- Country
- Marruecos
- Size (cm)
- 5.5 x 4 x 3.5
- Weight
- 142 g
- Acquired
- 2001
- Ex-collection
- Francisco Becerra
- Etymology
- From the Latin "cerussa", the name for lead carbonate used in Antiquity as a white pigment ('white lead').
- Quality
- Notable
- Value trend
- Al alza
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