Minerals cerussite, PbCO

Wastes from lead-rich mineral deposits typically form anglesite in sulfate-dominant environments, but in limestone-dominated host rocks and in gangue containing abundant carbonates, both cerussite [PbCOs] and hydrocerussite [Pb3(-003)2(01-1)2] have been reported as secondary minerals in mining-related wastes. Several carbonate and hydroxycarbonate minerals of copper and zinc were reported by Hudson-Edwards et al. (1996) as secondary products in stream sediments in the Tyne Basin, England. 

Some substitution of strontium (up to 14 mol.%), of lead (2 mol.% reported) but no barium has been reported in aragonite, although investigations at elevated temperatures and pressures show almost complete miscibility of these elements in the structure (Gaines et al., 1997, p. 442), and SrCOs (strontionite), BaCOs (witherite), and PbCOs (cerussite) are common minerals. A calculated plot (Figure 3(b)) for cations in ninefold coordination shows that this coordination theoretically allows trivalent rare earth elements and quadravalent and many other elements to be substituents in the structure. Ytterbium, europium, samarium, and radium carbonates with aragonite structure have been synthesized (Spear, 1983). 

The principle ore of lead is galena, (lead II sulphide, PbS), found in many parts of the world, especially Australia, USA, Spain and Mexico. Other lead minerals, such as anglesite (lead II sulphate, PbS04), and cerussite (lead II carbonate, PbCOs), are of much less importance. World consumption of lead now amounts to almost four million tonnes per year, of which the UK manufactures 340000 tonnes (WBMS, 1980). 

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