Cerussite on Galena

Item Description

Choice specimen of the honey-colored Cerussites, on Galena, from Stribro (Mies) in the Czech Republic. The adamantine luster of the Cerussites is good, enhancing the color even more by creating a rich glitter in good light. The Cerussites are cyclicly twinned, classic for the species. The longest crystal reaches nearly 2.0 cm, while the majority average close to 1 cm. These twins sit atop a matrix of solid Galena, with the faces along the bottom revealing the perfect cleavage and outstanding metallic luster associated with Galena. This locality dates back nearly 1000 years, and is one of the most well-known central European lead deposits. No telling exactly how old this specimen is, but safe to say it is an old-timer. This is a fine small cab, and Cerussites of this quality are very rare from this ancient mining district. #8745 in Kay's collection, she acquired it from Lidstrom's in 1979.