Anglesite

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title: "Anglesite" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["lead-minerals", "sulfate-minerals", "orthorhombic-minerals", "minerals-in-space-group-62", "luminescent-minerals", "gemstones", "baryte-group", "minerals-described-in-1832"] description: "Lead sulfate mineral" topic_path: "general/lead-minerals" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglesite" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Lead sulfate mineral ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox mineral"]

Field	Value
name	Anglesite
category	Sulfate minerals
image	Anglésite, galène, soufre 300-4-5394.JPG
imagesize	260px
caption	Anglesite from Morocco
formula	PbSO4
IMAsymbol	Ang
strunz	7.AD.35
dana	28.3.1.3
system	Orthorhombic
class	Dipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
symmetry	Pnma
color	Colorless to white, commonly tinted gray; orange, yellow, green, blue, rarely violet
habit	Granular, banded, nodular to stalactitic
cleavage	[001] good, [210] distinct
fracture	Conchoidal
tenacity	Brittle
mohs	2.5–3.0
luster	Adamantine crystals, dull when massive earthy
refractive	nα = 1.878
nβ = 1.883
nγ = 1.895
opticalprop	Biaxial (+)
2V	75° (measured), 68° (calculated)
streak	White
gravity	6.3
fusibility	1.5
diaphaneity	Transparent to translucent
references
::

| name = Anglesite | category = Sulfate minerals | boxwidth = | boxbgcolor = | image = Anglésite, galène, soufre 300-4-5394.JPG | imagesize = 260px | caption = Anglesite from Morocco | formula = PbSO4 |IMAsymbol=Ang | molweight = | strunz = 7.AD.35 | dana = 28.3.1.3 | system = Orthorhombic | class = Dipyramidal (mmm) H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m) | symmetry = Pnma | color = Colorless to white, commonly tinted gray; orange, yellow, green, blue, rarely violet | habit = Granular, banded, nodular to stalactitic | twinning = | cleavage = [001] good, [210] distinct | fracture = Conchoidal | tenacity = Brittle | mohs = 2.5–3.0 | luster = Adamantine crystals, dull when massive earthy | refractive = nα = 1.878 nβ = 1.883 nγ = 1.895 | opticalprop = Biaxial (+) | birefringence = | 2V = 75° (measured), 68° (calculated) | pleochroism = | streak = White | gravity = 6.3 | density = | melt = | fusibility = 1.5 | diagnostic = | solubility = | diaphaneity = Transparent to translucent | other = | references =

Anglesite is a lead sulfate mineral with the chemical formula PbSO4. It occurs as an oxidation product of primary lead sulfide ore, galena. Anglesite occurs as prismatic orthorhombic crystals and earthy masses, and is isomorphous with barite and celestine. It contains 74% of lead by mass and therefore has a high specific gravity of 6.3. Anglesite's color is white or gray with pale yellow streaks. It may be dark gray if impure.

It was first recognized as a mineral species by William Withering in 1783, who discovered it in the Parys copper-mine in Anglesey; the name anglesite, from this locality, was given by F. S. Beudant in 1832. The crystals from Anglesey, which were formerly found abundantly on a matrix of dull limonite, are small in size and simple in form, being usually bounded by four faces of a prism and four faces of a dome; they are brownish-yellow in colour owing to a stain of limonite. Crystals from some other localities, notably from in Sardinia, are transparent and colourless, possessed of a brilliant adamantine lustre, and usually modified by numerous bright faces. The variety of combinations and habits presented by the crystals is very extensive, nearly two hundred distinct forms being figured by V. von Lang in his monograph of the species; without measurement of the angles the crystals are frequently difficult to decipher. There are distinct cleavages parallel to the faces of the prism (110) and the basal plane (001), but these are not so well developed as in the isomorphous minerals barite and celestite.

Anglesite is a mineral of secondary origin, having been formed by the oxidation of galena in the upper parts of mineral lodes where these have been affected by weathering processes. At Monteponi the crystals encrust cavities in glistening granular galena; and from Leadhills, in Scotland, pseudomorphs of anglesite after galena are known. At most localities it is found as isolated crystals in the lead-bearing lodes, but at some places, in Australia and Mexico, it occurs as large masses, and is then mined as an ore of lead.

Anglesite is sometimes used as a gemstone.

Gallery

File:Anglesite-113492.jpg|Anglesite crystal from Touissit District, Morocco (size: 2.8 × 1.6 × 0.5 cm) File:Anglésite-Sardaigne.jpg|Anglesite from Monteponi Mine, Iglesias, Carbonia-Iglesias Province (size:15.3 × 7cm) Image:Anglesite.svg|Anglesite diagram illustrating its orthorhombic crystalline form

References

Bibliography

• Palache, P.; Berman H.; Frondel, C. (1960). "Dana's System of Mineralogy, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. (Seventh Edition)" John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, pp. 420–424.

References

1. Warr, L.N.. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine.
2. "Anglesite". Rruff.geo.arizona.edu.
3. "Anglesite Mineral Data". Webmineral.com.
4. "Anglesite: Anglesite mineral information and data". Mindat.org.
5. {{EB1911
6. Oldershaw, Cally. (2003). "Firefly guide to gems". Firefly Books.

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