Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Digital Library
|
||
|
Scientific Name:
Anglesite Synonyms: Anglésine, Lead mineralized by vitriolic acid, Lead mineralized by vitriolic acid and iron, Lead sulphate, Lead Vitriol, Plumbum acido vitriolico mineralisatum, Sulphate of Lead, Vitriol de Plomb Spanish Name: Vitriolo nativo de plomo, Anglesita Strunz Class: Class VI - Sulfates, Chromates, Molybdates, Tungstates, (SO4)--, etc. Crystal Growth Form: Orthorhombic Formula: PbSO4 |
||
|
View all images of Anglesite This species is present in the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum's permanent collection. |
||
AnglesiteAnglesite, (PbSO4), Orthorhombic. A supergene mineral of lead. It forms from weathering of galena on which it commonly forms concentric, massive, and earthy-appearing, dull white coatings on galena cores. It forms crystals that are prismatic with many forms. Its luster is adamantine when crystalline and dull and earthy elsewhere. Its cleavage is imperfect and its fracture is conchoidal. Its hardness H is 3 and it is heavy, with a specific gravity of 6.3 g/cc. It may be recognized by its heavy specific gravity and, where it occurs, by its close association with galena. It can be distinguished from cerussite by its poorly developed crystals. Unlike cerussite, it does not effervesce in warm dilute nitric acid. It is a common supergene mineral of lead and is formed by oxidation of galena as revealed in its habit of coating galena, or by oxidation, transport, and recrystallization. It is found in the upper portions of lead veins and its chemical resistance results in its exposure in outcrops. It was known to miners as the “heavy sand” that clogged gold pans of prospectors in early exploration of the American West. It is associated with the supergene metals of other minerals with which galena occurs, and with silica and iron oxides in outcrop gossans. Its name stems from the Island of Anglesey where the first identified mineral was collected. Ref. 1, 2, 4. |
||
