CERUSSITE



Cerussite, a lead carbonate mineral, was reported by Palache (1935) who illustrated the fine crystals found at Sterling Hill. Cerussite has not been reported from Franklin. Few observations have been made; no chemical or physical data exist. Bostwick (1982) reported a moderate yellow fluorescence in longwave ultraviolet.
The reported crystalline cerussite from Sterling Hill occurs as an alteration of galena. Other occurrences are known but not with certainty from the same paragenesis; these contain shards of titanite and an amphibole similar to hastingsite. Crystals from Sterling Hill, found within altered galena adjacent to the east limb in 1992, are up to 1 cm in size. (Dunn, 1995)

 Location Found: Franklin and Ogdensburg
     
 
     
 Formula: PbCO3
 Essential Elements: Carbon, Lead, Oxygen
 All Elements in Formula: Carbon, Lead, Oxygen
     
 IMA Status: Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
     
Fluorescent Mineral Properties
 Shortwave UV light: Moderately bright yellow to orange-yellow
 Mid wave UV light: Moderately bright yellow to orange-yellow
 Longwave UV light: Moderately bright yellow to orange-yellow
 Additional Information: Fluoresces less bright under shortwave
     
 To find out more about this mineral at minDat's website, follow this link   Cerussite

     
 References:
Dunn, Pete J. (1995). Franklin and Sterling Hill New Jersey: the world's most magnificent mineral deposits. Franklin, NJ.: The Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society. p.620

Frondel, Clifford (1972). The minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, a checklist. NY.: John Willey & Sons. p.48
The Picking Table References
 PT Issue and PageDescription / Comment
View IssueV. 57, No. 2 - Fall 2016, pg. 14Fluorescent Minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, N.J., Part 1, Richard C. Bostwick - Cerussite
View IssueV. 33, No. 2 - Fall 1992, pg. 10The Check List of Franklin-Sterling Hill Fluorescent Minerals - Cerussite (Fluorescent Info)
View IssueV. 18, No. 1 - March 1977, pg. 22The Fluorescent Minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, NJ by Richard C. Bostwick - Cerussite
View IssueV. 13, No. 2 - August 1972, pg. 11The Fluorescent Minerals of Franklin/Ogdensburg Area by Frank Z. Edwards - Cerussite (Fluorescent Info)
     
Images
     
Cerussite with magnetite from Sterling Hill Mine, NJ.Cerussite with magnetite from Sterling Hill Mine, NJ. under longwave UV Light
Cerussite (white crystalline balls) with magnetite (black) from Sterling Hill Mine, NJ. Field of view 3.5 cm. Photo by WP.
Cerussite with magnetite from Sterling Hill Mine, NJ under longwave UV light. The cerussite fluoresces yellow and the magnetite is non-fluorescent. Field of view 3.5 cm. Photo by WP.
Cerussite with magnetite from Sterling Hill Mine, NJ. under shortwave UV Light
Cerussite with magnetite from Sterling Hill Mine, NJ under shortwave UV light. The cerussite fluoresces white and the magnetite is non-fluorescent. Field of view 3.5 cm. Photo by WP.






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