Inorganic Gemstones

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Anglesite

Anglesite rough from Touissit Mine, Oujda, Morocco.

Anglesite is generally colourless or with a small yellowish tinge, but can also be found as grey, green, purple, black or brown crystals (the black colouring is a result of inclusions of galena). Crystals tend to be heavy, but they are fragile and soft, with perfect cleavage, and thus are faceted for collectors only.

Anglesite is created by oxidation of galena (lead sulphide) and could be present in Anglesey in Wales (and so the name) and within the Leadhills district of Scotland. The very best crystals are present in Tsumeb (Namibia) and Morocco. Other localities include Germany, the United States, and Sardinia.


Properties
Chemical Composition: 

Lead sulphate

Crystal System / Forms: 

Orthorhombic

Hardness: 
3
Specific Gravity: 

6.35

Lustre: 
Waxy to adamantine.
Refractive Index / Birefringence: 

1.87-1.89 / 0.017

Sources: 

Anglesey (Wales), Leadhills (Scotland), Tsumeb (Namibia) and Morocco, Germany, United States, and Sardinia.

Cuts & Uses: 

Step cut.

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