Anglesite Mineral Guide

Anglesite

Crystal system · Orthorhombic

Anglesite is a sulfate mineral prized by collectors for its exceptional color range, with several world-class Chinese localities.

About Anglesiteextended article

Elemental Composition (by mass)

Element	Mass %	Visual
Pb Lead	68.33%
O Oxygen	21.10%
S Sulfur	10.57%

Computed from simplified end-member formula. Solid-solution series, water content, and trace substitutions cause real-world variation.

Pseudomorph Relationships

Replaces — this mineral is often a pseudomorph after:

← Galena replacement

Anglesite (PbSO₄) coats galena in sulfate-rich environments.

Cornwall; Italy.

A pseudomorph (Greek "false form") is a mineral with the external shape of another species — the chemistry has changed but the crystal habit is inherited.

Mohs 2.5–3

Vickers (~) 170 HV

Knoop (~) 185 HK

Element composition by mass

Formula: PbSO₄ · molar mass: 303.26 g/mol

Pb	68.33%
O	21.1%
S	10.57%

Computed from atomic weights (IUPAC 2021). Site-occupancy groups (Fe,Mn) split equally.

Mohs Hardness 2.5–3

1
Talc 2
Gypsum 3
Calcite 4
Fluorite 5
Apatite 6
Orthoclase 7
Quartz 8
Topaz 9
Corundum 10
Diamond

Anglesite sits at 2.5–3 on the Mohs scale — can be scratched by a steel knife.

Colors:

Streak
White

Crystal system
Orthorhombic

SulfatesSulfates

TL;DR · 1 min read

Anglesite (PbSO₄) is the secondary lead sulfate of the oxidized cap zones of galena-bearing Pb-Zn deposits. Named after Anglesey (Wales) where it was first described, Anglesite is famous for adamantine transparent crystals from Touissit (Morocco), Tsumeb (Namibia), and Sardinia.

More minerals to explore

About Anglesite

Anglesite is a sulfate mineral in the barite group and has the chemical formula PbSO4. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and is one of the most visually varied minerals in the collector market. Its combination of structural character and global distribution make it a recognized species in both systematic and aesthetic collections.

Identification & care

Anglesite typically forms prismatic, tabular, pyramidal crystals; often complex multi-faced; massive, granular, stalactitic. Its color range is broad, including colorless, white, pale yellow, grey, pale green, and rarely black (galena-bearing). The luster is adamantine, vitreous, resinous, the streak is white, and specimens are typically transparent, translucent. The cleavage is good on {001}, distinct on {210}. The fracture is conchoidal, which aids identification.

Collector context

How it forms

In terms of geology, Anglesite forms in secondary mineral in oxidized zones of lead ore deposits; formed by alteration of galena by sulfate-bearing solutions. It is commonly found in association with galena, cerussite, pyromorphite, wulfenite, mimetite, lanarkite, limonite.

Classic Chinese localities

Documented Chinese occurrences are recorded at Jiama Cu-polymetallic deposit, Jindonggou Au deposit and Dexing Cu-Mo-Au ore field, among others.

Why collectors care

Collectors pursue Anglesite for the clarity of its crystal form and, in good material, saturated color that reads instantly across a display case. A well-terminated anglesite on clean matrix photographs well, identifies quickly, and anchors a cabinet piece. Top Chinese specimens over the last two decades have reset the bar for what anglesite looks like at collector grade.

What affects value

Value in Anglesite is assessed, in typical order of weight, against: (1) locality provenance; (2) size relative to the species norm; (3) crystal form and termination sharpness; (4) color saturation and zoning; (5) transparency and internal clarity; (6) matrix quality and aesthetic balance; (7) condition (absence of damage, chips, or repair). Cleaning quality and verified locality documentation act as multipliers across the above.

Naming history

The name Anglesite has a specific etymological and historical context — see Mindat's reference entry for provenance details. We have retained naming data at the record level; published prose is paraphrased from factual fields rather than copied from source.