What cerussite is
Cerussite is lead carbonate, formed where galena weathers in the oxidised zone of lead deposits. Its name comes from the Latin cerussa, white lead, the pigment of old lead paints: F. S. Beudant applied the name céruse to the mineral in 1832 and Wilhelm Haidinger gave it its present form in 1845. Miners called it lead spar or white lead ore.
Two things make it a collector's mineral. The first is lustre: cerussite is adamantine, almost as brilliant as diamond, and very dense for a clear crystal. The second is twinning. Like aragonite, cerussite twins readily; three crystals often grow through each other at nearly 60 degrees, forming six-rayed stars, V-shaped twins and open lattices called reticulated cerussite. At 890 carats, the Light of the Desert in Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum is the largest faceted cerussite in the world.
Cerussite in Morocco
The Mibladen district near Midelt produces cerussite with barite and galena, sometimes on the same pieces as vanadinite. Some Mibladen cerussite fluoresces under ultraviolet light. Touissit, in the northeast, also produces cerussite, which can occur on the same pieces as its azurite and anglesite.
What cerussite costs: price data from October 2026
Asking prices read on 28 October 2026. Moroccan cerussite is one of the most affordable classic minerals.
| Source | Listings | Price |
|---|---|---|
| FossilEra, all cerussite | 8 | $15 to $39 |
| eBay, Moroccan cerussite, fixed price | 201 | Median $24, middle half $14 to $58 |
| eBay, pieces under 50 g | 58 | Median $14 |
| eBay, pieces of 150 to 400 g | 17 | Median $30 |
How to judge a cerussite specimen
What collectors look for:
- Twinning: well-formed stars, Vs or lattices raise the value most.
- Clarity and lustre: clear, colourless to white crystals with bright faces.
- Contrast: cerussite on dark galena, with barite or with blue azurite.
- Condition: twins are fragile, so check every arm for breaks.
Care and safety
Cerussite is about 77% lead by weight. Handle and display it freely, wash your hands afterwards, and never ingest it, cut it or use it in drinks or elixirs.
It is one of the most fragile common minerals: brittle, sensitive to heat and to sudden temperature changes, which can crack it. Never put it in an ultrasonic cleaner, under hot water, or near a heat source. Dust it with a blower.
Questions collectors ask
Is cerussite rare?
Cerussite is a common lead mineral, but well-formed twinned crystals and large clear crystals are scarce and sought after.
What is cerussite used for?
It is an ore of lead and was historically linked to white lead pigment. Today fine crystals are valued by collectors.
What is the chemical formula of cerussite?
PbCO₃, lead carbonate, about 77% lead by weight.
How much is cerussite worth?
Most Moroccan cerussite is inexpensive: fixed-price eBay listings had a median asking price of $24 on 28 October 2026.