| P number: | P521542 |
|---|---|
| Caption: | Mineral specimen of pyromorphite. Leadhills, Lanarkshire, Lanarkshire. |
| Description: | The specimen shows a vein of vivid orange pyromorphite within a band of white quartz and calcite. British Geological Survey Petrology Mineral Collection sample number 31631. Pyromorphite is a lead chloride phosphate mineral. It usually occurs as beautiful tabular crystals with variable colours. As well as Scotland, good examples are found in Germany, Czechoslovakia, England (Cornwall and Cumbria), the Urals, Mexico, USA, Australia and Italy. Pyromorphite, lead chlorophosphate is a common oxidation mineral of the Leadhills district. It is isomorphous with mimetite, lead chloroarsenate and all mixtures from pure pyromorphite to pure mimetite are found. The specimens show a remarkable range of colours but usually vary from olive-green to orange-red, or even yellow. It is an oxidation product of galena, the oxidizing waters can contain small quantities of hydrochloric, arsenic, phosphoric or vanadic acids in solution that act on the galena giving rise to incrustations of pyromorphite or mimetite. Pyromorphite is often found enclosing a solid mass of galena. |
| Date taken: | Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 GMT 2003 |
| Photographer: | Unknown |
| Copyright statement: | NERC |
| Orientation: | Landscape |
| Size: | 201.82 KB; 1000 x 775 pixels; 85 x 66 mm (print at 300 DPI); 265 x 205 mm (screen at 96 DPI); |
| Average Rating: | Not yet rated |
| Categories: | Best of BGS Images/ Rocks and minerals |
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