Minerals
TopGeneral Information
Cerussite is a lead carbonate and was one of the key components of lead paint. It is named after the Latin name cerussa, which means white lead. Elizabeth I of England used to wear cosmetics based on cerussite.[1]
TopChemical & Physical Information
| Trivial Name | Cerussite |
| Chemical Name | Lead Carbonate |
| Chemical Formula | PbCO3 |
| Density | 6,53-6,57 g·cm-3 |
| Molar mass | ? |
| Hardness | 3-3,5 |
| Crytal system | Orthorhombic |
| Unit cell | ? |
| Crystal habit | ? |
| Fracture | Brittle conchoidal |
| Cleavage | Good [110] [021] |
| Colour | Colourless, white, gray, blue or green. |
| Luster | Glass |
| Streak | White |
| Opacity | Transparent to opaque. |
| Safety | Safe |
| Extra | Sometimes fluorescent. |
Photos
(2 cm)
Sources
[1] Wikipedia
[2] Specimen from my personal collection, photo taken by me.
