Piromorfita
Piromorfita is a mineral with formula Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl, in the Fosfatos group. This specimen comes from Daoping Mine, Gongcheng Co., Guilin, Guangxi, China and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.
Description
Prismatic apple-green crystals, translucent, with finely striated faces. Terminations show hopper growth and very compact radial groupings forming a balanced 360° mound. High vitreous lustre, with slight frosting at the tips.
History of this specimen
From the first Chinese pyromorphites that reached the international market c. 2000, often mistaken for Les Farges for their colour and lustre. It is from that now exhausted generation, preserved in perfect condition and very representative of the initial series that marked a before-and-after in Chinese mineralogy.
About Piromorfita
Lead chlorapatite. Pyromorphite of "classic Daoping" style, with prismatic habit and saturated apple-green colour. Pieces of this kind were the first to compete with the French from Les Farges, the Spanish from San Andrés and the US pieces from Bunker Hill for their lustre and crystal perfection.
About the locality
Located in a lead–zinc district of southern China, the Daoping Mine is renowned for having produced, c. 2000, pyromorphites of exceptional quality and very pure hues. Specimens were quickly exhausted and today come only from old stock.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0267
- Composition
- Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl
- Name
- Piromorfita
- Group
- Fosfatos
- Category
- Cupidium
- Matrix
- Limonita goethita (ferruginosa compacta)
- Mine
- Daoping Mine
- District / Municipality
- Gongcheng Co.
- Province
- Guilin
- Region
- Guangxi
- Country
- China
- Size (cm)
- 6 x 3 x 1.5
- Weight
- 36 g
- Acquired
- 2025
- Ex-collection
- Sergio Petetrich
- Etymology
- From the Greek "pyr" (fire) and "morphé" (form), for the change in appearance on heating.
- Quality
- Notable
- Value trend
- Al alza