4.0" Gemmy Cerussite on Pink Bladed Barite - Morocco

This is large cluster of salmon-pink bladed barite dotted with tiny grayish cerussite crystals on a galena-rich matrix, collected from the Les Dalles Mine in Mibladen, Morocco. The cerussite fluoresces bright yellow under short-wave UV light.

Cerussite is a lead-carbonate mineral with the chemical formula PbCO3, and is an important ore of lead. It is a common weathering product of galena, explaining why it is typically extracted from oxidized zones of lead ore deposits. It can form into a variety of different structures, sometimes in fibrous patterns and other times in granular aggregations, though it generally forms vitreous pseudo-hexagonal crystals. Its colors vary depending on composition and structure: it is most commonly colorless, white, grey and green-tinted.

Barite, commonly spelled baryte, is well-known for its great range of colors and varied crystal forms and habits. = It is a heavy mineral consisting of barium sulfate, and typically has the chemical formula of BaSO4. The barite group consists of baryte, celestine, anglesite, and anhydrite. It is generally white to colorless and is the main source of barium.

Galena is a lead-based mineral and the primary ore of lead, and has been used for its lead content for thousands of years. Galena typically displays a gray metallic luster and forms cubes or octahedral crystals. The chemical composition of galena is PbS.

While galena will not pose a health hazard by sitting on the shelf or even from casual handling, we suggest washing hands following handling due to the mineral's lead content.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Cerussite & Barite
LOCATION
Les Dalles Mine (Lidal Mine), Mibladen, Aït Oufella Caïdat, Midelt Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco
SIZE
4.0 x 1.8"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#292924