4.0" Gemmy Cerussite on Pink Bladed Barite - Morocco

This is large cluster of salmon-pink bladed barite dotted with tiny grayish cerussite crystals on a galena-rich matrix, collected from the Les Dalles Mine in Mibladen, Morocco. The cerussite fluoresces bright yellow under short-wave UV light.

About Cerussite

Cerussite is a lead-carbonate mineral with the chemical formula PbCO3, and is an important ore of lead. It is a common weathering product of galena, explaining why it is typically extracted from oxidized zones of lead ore deposits. It can form into a variety of different structures, sometimes in fibrous patterns and other times in granular aggregations, though it generally forms vitreous pseudo-hexagonal crystals. Its colors vary depending on composition and structure: it is most commonly colorless, white, grey and green-tinted.

About Barite (Baryte)

Barite is a barium sulfate mineral (BaSO₄) known for its high specific gravity, which makes it unusually heavy for a non-metallic mineral. Typically forming in tabular or bladed crystals, barite can also appear in massive, fibrous, or nodular habits. Its colors range from colorless and white to shades of blue, yellow, gray, or brown, often influenced by trace impurities. Barite commonly forms in hydrothermal veins, sedimentary rocks, and as a gangue mineral in lead-zinc ore deposits. It is widely used in industrial applications, especially as a weighting agent in drilling muds for oil and gas exploration. Its striking crystal formations and vivid hues also make it a popular mineral for collectors.

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.
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DETAILS
SPECIES
Cerussite & Barite
LOCATION
Les Dalles Mine (Lidal Mine), Mibladen, Aït Oufella Caïdat, Midelt Province, Drâa-Tafilalet Region, Morocco
SIZE
4.0 x 1.8"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#292924