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Cerussite (Photo) [abbr. Cer ]

Year of discovery: 1845 (Vicenza province, Italy), 1891 (Japan)

Locality list: 86 localities of cerussite

• PbCO₃
• [Pb²⁺][CO₃]^2-

• Class: Aragonite group
• Class: Carbonate
• Soluble in: warm HCl (with bubbles), HNO₃ (with bubbles)
• Insoluble in: cold HCl
• Fluorescence: UV excitation (Orange)
• Formed by alteration of Caledonite.
• Formed by alteration of Linarite with Malachite.
• Substitution pseudomorph: Replace Anglesite, Phosgenite, Leadhillite, Caledonite, Hydrocerussite, Bournonite, Linarite, Pyromorphite, Vanadinite, or Calcite.
• Substitution pseudomorph: Replaced by Minium, Malachite, Galena, Calcite, Siderite, Pyromorphite, Phosgenite, or Dolomite.
• Incrustation pseudomorph: Replace Sphalerite.
• Incrustation pseudomorph: Replaced by Quartz, or Chrysocolla.

• Pb => Ca: Calcite, Aragonite, Vaterite
• Pb => Mg: Magneiste
• Pb => Fe: Siderite
• Pb => Cd: Otavite
• Pb => Zn: Smithsonite
• Pb => Ni: Gaspéite (Gaspeite)
• Pb => Co: Spherocobaltite
• Pb => Ba: Witherite
• Pb => Sr: Strontianite
• Pb => Mn: Rhodochrosite
• Pb => Na₂: Gregoryite

• Color: White-Colorless
• Streak: White
• Luster: Adamantine, Vitreous, Pearly
• Diaphaneity: Transparent-Translucent

• Habit: Prismatic, Platy
• Aggregate: Network structure by repeated twin
• Twin: Twin at 60 degree

• Cleavage: Perfect on {110} (2 planes), Distinct on {021} (2 planes)
• Hardness: 3-3.5
• Density: 6.5

• System: Orthorhombic
• Group: mmm, Pmcn
• Lattice: a=5.2, b=8.5, c=6.1

Etymology: Cerussa (Lead white) in Latin