Pyromorphite is part of the apatite group of minerals. It forms hexagonal crystals and ranges in color from white to gray through yellow and brown, but is usually green. It is soft (Mohs hardness 3) and very dense, like most lead-bearing minerals. This specimen is from the classic Broken Hill mine in New South Wales, Australia, and was photographed at the Natural History Museum in London.
Pyromorphite
The Phosphate Minerals
Pyromorphite is a lead phosphate, Pb5(PO4)3Cl, found around the oxidized edges of lead deposits. It is occasionally an ore of lead. (more below)
Photo courtesy Aram Dulyam of Wikimedia Commons
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