The facts
What anglesite actually is
Anglesite is classified as barite group, with the composition PbSO₄. It crystallises in the orthorhombic system.
Colour comes from colourless to pale yellow or grey; often clouded by an included galena core from which it forms, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.877–1.894. Specific gravity around 6.30–6.39. Cleavage: good {001}, distinct {210}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where anglesite comes from
Anglesite is produced at Touissit, Morocco, Tsumeb, Namibia, Monteponi, Sardinia, Italy and Parys Mountain, Anglesey, Wales (type locality).
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How anglesite is treated
Untreated. Very high RI and dispersion make faceted anglesite brilliant, but at Mohs 2.5–3 and SG 6.3 it is a cabinet stone only. Lead sulphate; wash hands after handling.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What anglesite is confused with
In the trade anglesite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Cerussite, Barite, Celestine or Phosgenite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.877–1.894 and specific gravity 6.30–6.39 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What anglesite is used for
Demand for anglesite comes from mineral collecting, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen.
Durability and care
Anglesite is 2.5–3 on the Mohs scale, with good {001}, distinct {210} cleavage.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What anglesite costs
As a guide, anglesite trades around Specimens $50–$8,000; faceted stones $80–$400/ct.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is anglesite treated, and how?
Untreated. Very high RI and dispersion make faceted anglesite brilliant, but at Mohs 2.5–3 and SG 6.3 it is a cabinet stone only. Lead sulphate; wash hands after handling.
Where does anglesite come from?
Touissit, Morocco, Tsumeb, Namibia, Monteponi, Sardinia, Italy and Parys Mountain, Anglesey, Wales (type locality). Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is anglesite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2.5–3 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does anglesite cost?
Indicatively Specimens $50–$8,000; faceted stones $80–$400/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is anglesite confused with?
Most often Cerussite, Barite, Celestine and Phosgenite. A refractive index of 1.877–1.894 and a specific gravity near 6.30–6.39 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for anglesite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about anglesite