The facts
What cerussite actually is
Cerussite is classified as aragonite group, with the composition PbCO₃. It crystallises in the orthorhombic system.
Colour comes from colourless to white when pure; grey from included galena, yellow from bindheimite, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.803–2.078. Specific gravity around 6.53–6.57. Cleavage: distinct {110} and {102}. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where cerussite comes from
Cerussite is produced at Tsumeb, Namibia, Touissit and Mibladen, Morocco, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia and Leadhills, Scotland.
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 cerussite is treated
Untreated. Dispersion of 0.055 exceeds diamond's, so faceted cerussite has spectacular fire, but at Mohs 3 and density over 6.5 it is a display stone only. Contains lead — wash hands after handling cut material.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What cerussite is confused with
In the trade cerussite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Anglesite, Barite, Phosgenite or Calcite.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.803–2.078 and specific gravity 6.53–6.57 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What cerussite is used for
Demand for cerussite 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
Hardness 3–3.5; cleavage distinct {110} and {102}. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
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 cerussite costs
As a guide, cerussite trades around Faceted stones $60–$400/ct; fine Tsumeb twins $200–$20,000.
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 cerussite treated, and how?
Untreated. Dispersion of 0.055 exceeds diamond's, so faceted cerussite has spectacular fire, but at Mohs 3 and density over 6.5 it is a display stone only. Contains lead — wash hands after handling cut material.
Where does cerussite come from?
Tsumeb, Namibia, Touissit and Mibladen, Morocco, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia and Leadhills, Scotland. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is cerussite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 3–3.5 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 cerussite cost?
Indicatively Faceted stones $60–$400/ct; fine Tsumeb twins $200–$20,000. 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 cerussite confused with?
Most often Anglesite, Barite, Phosgenite and Calcite. A refractive index of 1.803–2.078 and a specific gravity near 6.53–6.57 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for cerussite?
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 cerussite