2.1" Gemmy Anglesite and Cerussite Crystals on Galena

Anglesite is a secondary lead mineral (chemical formula PbSO4) that occurs as an oxidation product of the primary lead sulfide ore, galena. It can form from other lead sulfides, though galena is the most common. It has a Mohs hardness of only 2.5-3, which makes it roughly as soft as calcite. It occurs as prismatic orthorhombic crystals and in massive form.
It is named for its type locality at the Parys Mine on the Island of Anglesey, Wales in the United Kingdom.

Depending on impurities present during formation, anglesite can bear a variety of colors including brown, gray, green, orange, red, white, yellow, and sometimes black from galena impurities. In rare cases, anglesite can be multicolored. Watch out for amber-red anglesite from Touissit, Morocco. It has been synthetically colored by immersing light yellow crystals in bleach.

While anglesite 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.

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.