Pyromorphite

Pyromorphite is a lead chlorophosphate mineral, sometimes used as an ore of Lead.

It occurs as striking crystal formations, often green, which are very popular with collectors.

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Appearance, Uses and History

Pyromorphite is a Lead chlorophosphate mineral, often occurring in bright green crystalline masses.

It is often used as an ore of Lead, but is also prized by mineral collectors due to its outstanding green crystal formations.

The unusual name is derived from the Greek pyr (fire) and morfe (form), as wjhen the mineral is melted there is an interesting recrystallisation reaction.

Locales

Pyromorphite is found all around the world, with excellent crystalline specimens occurring in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa, the UK, the USA, and Zambia.

Mineralogy

Chemistry
A lead chlorophosphate mineral with a chemical formula of Pb5(PO4)3Cl.
Colours and Variations
Primarily green to dark green, but can also occur in orange, yellow, green-yellow, brown, colourless or white.
Streak
White
Luster
Subvitreous, resinous, waxy, greasy
Fracture
Subconchoidal to uneven
Transparency
Translucent
Crystal habit
Hexagonal crystals, botryoidal, grainy, radiating, globular, prismatic, reniform.
Mohs hardness
3.5 – 4.0
Specific Gravity
6.5 – 7.1
Easiest testing method
Sometimes fluorescent; high specific gravity. Can be extremely difficult to differentiate between Pyromorphite, Mimetite, and Vanadinite.
Common Treatments

Hazards and Warnings

Pyromorphite is a Lead based mineral, used as an ore of lead, and as such, is a toxic mineral. Inhaling or ingesting this mineral could be very dangerous, and hands should be washed after handling any specimen of Pyromorphite.

Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis.

When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.

Translations

Arabic:

Hindi:

Portuguese:

  • Piromorfite

Bengali:

Indonesian:

Punjabi:

English:

Italian:

  • Piromorfite

Russian:

  • Пироморфит

French:

  • Mine de Plomb verte

Japanese:

  • 緑鉛鉱

Spanish:

  • Piromorfita
  • Pyromorphita

German:

  • Pyromorphit

Korean:

Thai:

Gujurati:

Mandarin and Traditional Chinese:

  • 磷氯铅矿
  • 磷氯鉛礦

Urdu:

Further Reading / External Links