Cerussite

Formula:  PbCO3

Origin of name:  From Greek for lead carbonate

 

Crystal system:  Orthorhombic

Crystal class:  2/m 2/m 2/m

Twinning:  Common on {110}, lamellar, reticulated, cyclic (sixlings); less common on {130}, contact, heart-shaped

Unit cell: a = 5.183 Ǻ, b = 8.503 Ǻ, c = 6.144 Ǻ

 

Colour:  Colourless, white, gray, smoky, blue, green, black

Diaphaneity:

Luster:  Adamantine, vitreous, resinous

Habit: Crystals tabular, elongated along a-axis, or equant, acicular or thin tabular; twinned; granular, massive, jackstraw

Hardness:  3 to 3.5

Specific gravity:  6.55

Cleavage:  4; {110} and {021} distinct, {010} and {012} trace

Tenacity:  6.55

Streak:  Colourless to white

 

Synonyms/varieties:

 

Comments:  Sometimes fluoresces yellowish in LW

 

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