Anglesite
| Colour | White, Clear, Yellow |
|---|---|
| Mohs hardness | 2.5–3.0 |
| Lustre | Adamantine crystals, dull when massive earthy |
| Streak | White |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Transparency | Transparent to translucent |
| Cleavage | [001] good, [210] distinct |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Chemical formula | PbSO 4 |
| Specific gravity | 6.3 |
What is Anglesite?
Anglesite is a lead sulfate mineral with the chemical formula PbSO4. It occurs as an oxidation product of primary lead sulfide ore, galena. Anglesite occurs as prismatic orthorhombic crystals and earthy masses, and is isomorphous with barite and celestine. It contains 74% of lead by mass and therefore has a high specific gravity of 6.3. Anglesite's color is white or gray with pale yellow streaks. It may be dark gray if impure.
How to identify Anglesite
- Lustre: Adamantine crystals, dull when massive earthy.
- Hardness: Mohs 2.5–3.0 — soft; a knife will scratch it.
- Streak: White.
- Habit: Orthorhombic crystal system.
Anglesite in different forms
Stones often confused with Anglesite
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Anglesite?
Anglesite is Mohs 2.5–3.0 on the hardness scale.
What colour is Anglesite?
Anglesite is typically white, clear, yellow (Colorless to white, commonly tinted gray; orange, yellow, green, blue, rarely violet).