Leadhillite

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Leadhillite

Thin crystals of transparent leadhillite, inside a vug of galena which seems to be partially altered to cerussite. From the type locality, Leadhills, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Size: 5.3 x 5.1 x 4.4 cm.
General
Category Carbonate minerals
Chemical formula Pb4SO4(CO3)2(OH)2
Strunz classification 05.BF.40
Identification
Color Colourless to white, grey, yellowish, pale green to blue
Crystal system Monoclinic
Luster Adamantine, resinous, pearly
An old beam engine to dewater a lead mine at Leadhills.

Leadhillite is a lead sulfate carbonate hydroxide mineral, often associated with anglesite. It has the formula Pb4SO4(CO3)2(OH)2. Leadhillite crystallizes in the monoclinic system, but forms pseudo-hexagonal forms due to crystal twinning. It forms transparent to translucent variably colored adamantine crystals. It is quite soft with a Mohs hardness of 2.5 and a relatively high specific gravity of 6.26 to 6.55.

It was discovered in 1832 in the Susannah Mine, Leadhills in the county of Lanark, Scotland.

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