RocksdayAnglesite vs Cerussite
How to tell them apart
Lead sulfate that forms where galena weathers, often as brilliant clear crystals.
Photo: Parent Géry, CC BY-SA 3.0
Lead carbonate: brilliant, heavy white crystals that often twin into lattices and six-rayed stars.
Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick tests
- Acid (vinegar or dilute HCl): Cerussite fizzes; Anglesite doesn't.
Key differences
- Cerussite fizzes in acid.
- Anglesite doesn't fizz in acid.
Side by side
| Property | Anglesite | Cerussite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 2.5–3 | 3–3.5 |
| Luster | Adamantine | Adamantine |
| Streak | White | White |
| Colors | Clear, White, Yellow, Gray | White, Clear, Gray |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic | Orthorhombic |
| Specific gravity | 6.3–6.4 | 6.5–6.6 |
| Formula | PbSO₄ | PbCO₃ |
| Found in | Touissit, Morocco; Anglesey, Wales | Tsumeb, Namibia; Touissit, Morocco |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify anglesite
- Heavy, bright crystals, often growing on galena.
- Adamantine luster.
- Doesn't fizz in acid.
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Full Anglesite guide →How to identify cerussite
- Very heavy for a white mineral.
- Diamond-like luster.
- Lattice-like or star-shaped twinned crystals.
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Full Cerussite guide →More comparisons
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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