Cerussite is a lead carbonate mineral highly valued by collectors for its brilliant adamantine luster and complex, often twinned, reticulated crystal habits. It forms in the oxidized zones of lead-bearing ore bodies, commonly resulting from the alteration of galena. Handle with care due to its significant lead content, and store away from acidic environments.
Is this cerussite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch cerussite with a known reference. Cerussite sits at Mohs 3-3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Cerussite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Cerussite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, gray, yellow, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular, prismatic, or reticulated aggregates.
Often confused with
Cerussite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside cerussite
Minerals reported to co-occur with cerussite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbCO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3-3.5
- Density
- 6.5-6.6 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular, Prismatic, Or Reticulated Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Distinct
- Fluorescence
- Often Fluorescent Bright Yellow Under LW UV
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Ore Mineral
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Lead Deposits
- Typical price
- $10-100 thumbnail, $200-2000 cabinet
Where rockhounds find cerussite
60 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Tsumeb, Namibia
- Broken Hill, Australia
- Touissit, Morocco
- Arizona, USA
- Bad Ems, Germany
U.S. states with cerussite
Each link opens a state-specific list of mapped rockhounding spots that produce cerussite.
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of lead deposits country — that is the host setting where cerussite typically forms. If you start seeing galena, anglesite, smithsonite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular, prismatic, or reticulated aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah, Missouri, New Mexico — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify cerussite?+
Where is cerussite found?+
Can I find cerussite in the United States?+
How much is cerussite worth?+
Is cerussite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like cerussite?+
What minerals are found with cerussite?+
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Find cerussite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
