RocksdayBarite vs Cerussite
How to tell them apart
Barium sulfate — a pale mineral that is surprisingly heavy. Sand-filled rosettes from Oklahoma are known as rose rocks.
Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0
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; Barite doesn't.
- Heft: Cerussite feels noticeably heavier for its size (specific gravity 6.5–6.6 vs 4.3–4.5).
Key differences
- Barite is lighter and less brilliant.
Side by side
| Property | Barite | Cerussite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 3–3.5 | 3–3.5 |
| Luster | Vitreous to pearly | Adamantine |
| Streak | White | White |
| Colors | White, Clear, Blue, Yellow, Brown | White, Clear, Gray |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic | Orthorhombic |
| Specific gravity | 4.3–4.5 | 6.5–6.6 |
| Formula | BaSO₄ | PbCO₃ |
| Found in | Norman, Oklahoma; Morocco | Tsumeb, Namibia; Touissit, Morocco |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify barite
- Unusually heavy for a light-colored mineral.
- Tabular, bladed crystals.
- Hardness about 3 — a knife scratches it.
- Doesn't fizz in acid.
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Full Barite 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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