Cerussite (w. duftite and mimetite)

TSNB924
Specimen
Lees, B.
Exhibit 1. Cerussite (w. duftite and mimetite).
Exhibit 1. Cerussite (w. duftite and mimetite).
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
Exhibit 2. Analytical data; duftite. (M. Southwood and P. Carr; unpublished)
Exhibit 2. Analytical data; duftite. (M. Southwood and P. Carr; unpublished)
Image Credit: Malcolm Southwood
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Specimen Title

Cerussite (w. duftite and mimetite)

Associated Minerals

calcite; duftite; mimetite

Principal Mineral

Cerussite

Size

Miniature; 47mm

Location in the Mine

Undetermined

Provenance

Lees, B.

Collection

Southwood, M.; MS2009.050

Entry Number

Specimen; TSNB924

Description

A cavernous matrix of intergrown duftite and calcite hosts short prismatic crystals (to 20 mm) of colourless cerussite, which are partly and preferentially encrusted with pale lemon-yellow mimetite. WDS analysis (Australian National University; May 2019) has confirmed duftite close to end-member composition (Exhibit 2). (Compare TSNB923 and TSNB925.)

The specimen was purchased from Brian Lees (Collectors Edge), but with no record of earlier ownership or location in the mine. This distinctive paragenesis is from a fairly large discovery believed to have been made in circa 1978 (Cairncross 2000).