Pyromorphite
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Drow_male" title="User:Drow male">Fernando Losada Rodríguez</a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mineral NamePyromorphite
Chemical FormulaPb₅(PO₄)₃Cl
Mohs Hardness3.5
Crystal Systemhexagonal
Lusterresinous
Streak Colorwhite to yellowish-white
Cleavagepoor on {1010}
Fractureconchoidal to uneven
Specific Gravity6.5
Colorsyellow, green, orange, brown
Transparencytranslucent
Type LocalityMasakka (specific mine/region, possibly in Africa), Les Farges (France), Bad Ems (Germany)
Mineral GroupPhosphates
Usesminor ore of lead, collector
Associated Mineralsgalena, cerussite, anglesite, mimetite, vanadinite
Rarityuncommon
Description
The specimen is a bright yellow, botryoidal to massive aggregate of pyromorphite crystals, forming a crust on a darker matrix.
Geological Context
Pyromorphite is a secondary mineral found in the oxidized zone of lead ore deposits, formed by the alteration of primary lead minerals like galena in veins and cavities.
