The mineral phosgenite

Chemical Formula Pb₂(CO)₃Cl₂

Composition Lead chloro-carbonate

Color Colorless, white, light gray, light brown, light yellow, and light green

Streak White

Hardness 2½ - 3

Crystal Forms
and Aggregates (Tetragonal) Occurs in well-developed crystals, usually long and prismatic, sometimes short and stubby. Crystals are striated lengthwise, and may have pointed terminations. Usually occurs in single individual crystals, but sometimes found in columnar or grainy aggregates.

Transparency Transparent

Specific Gravity 6.0 - 6.3

Luster Greasy to adamantine

Cleavage 2,1 - prismatic

Fracture Conchoidal

Tenacity Slightly sectile; nonbrittle

Other ID Marks Fluoresces bright orange-yellow in shortwave ultraviolet light

Other Names Horn Lead , Cromfordite

In Group Carbonates

All About Phosgenite is a secondary lead mineral, often found where sea water resides.

Uses Phosgenite is of interest to some mineral collectors because of its rarity, and is highly sought after by collectors who specialize on fluorescent minerals. It is used as an ore of lead where other lead minerals occur in abundance in the same locality.

Striking Features Fluorescence, heaviness, and characteristic crystals

Complex Tests Effervesces in hydrochloric acid

Popularity (1-4) 3

Prevalence (1-3) 3

Demand (1-3) 2

Distinguishing
Similar Minerals Anglesite - very difficult to distinguish from Phosgenite, but is not sectile and is brittle, and does not effervesce.
Cerussite - occurs in characteristic crystals, is not sectile and is brittle.

Commonly
Occurs With Cerussite, Anglesite

Noteworthy
Localities Enormous crystals have come from Monteponi and Montevecchio on the Island of Sardinia, Italy, together with Cerussite and Anglesite. Good crystals have come from Matlock, Derbyshire, England and numerous places in Cornwall; Tarnowitz, Poland; Touissit Mine, Morocco; Dundas, Tasmania, and Broken Hills, New South Wales, Australia; and in Tsumeb, Namibia. It occurs as an alteration product of the lead slags at Laurium, Greece. It is found only sparingly in the U.S., particularly in the Terrible Mine in Custer Co., Colorado; the Mammoth Mine in Tiger, Pinal Co., Arizona; the Stephenson-Bennet Mine in Dona Ana Co., New Mexico; and the Silver Sprout Mine in Inyo Co., California.

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	Chemical Formula	Pb₂(CO)₃Cl₂
	Composition	Lead chloro-carbonate
	Color	Colorless, white, light gray, light brown, light yellow, and light green
	Streak	White
	Hardness	2½ - 3
	Crystal Forms and Aggregates	(Tetragonal) Occurs in well-developed crystals, usually long and prismatic, sometimes short and stubby. Crystals are striated lengthwise, and may have pointed terminations. Usually occurs in single individual crystals, but sometimes found in columnar or grainy aggregates.
	Transparency	Transparent
	Specific Gravity	6.0 - 6.3
	Luster	Greasy to adamantine
	Cleavage	2,1 - prismatic
	Fracture	Conchoidal
	Tenacity	Slightly sectile; nonbrittle
	Other ID Marks	Fluoresces bright orange-yellow in shortwave ultraviolet light
	Other Names	Horn Lead , Cromfordite
	In Group	Carbonates
	All About	Phosgenite is a secondary lead mineral, often found where sea water resides.
	Uses	Phosgenite is of interest to some mineral collectors because of its rarity, and is highly sought after by collectors who specialize on fluorescent minerals. It is used as an ore of lead where other lead minerals occur in abundance in the same locality.
	Striking Features	Fluorescence, heaviness, and characteristic crystals
	Complex Tests	Effervesces in hydrochloric acid
	Popularity (1-4)	3
	Prevalence (1-3)	3
	Demand (1-3)	2
	Distinguishing Similar Minerals	Anglesite - very difficult to distinguish from Phosgenite, but is not sectile and is brittle, and does not effervesce. Cerussite - occurs in characteristic crystals, is not sectile and is brittle.
	Commonly Occurs With	Cerussite, Anglesite
	Noteworthy Localities	Enormous crystals have come from Monteponi and Montevecchio on the Island of Sardinia, Italy, together with Cerussite and Anglesite. Good crystals have come from Matlock, Derbyshire, England and numerous places in Cornwall; Tarnowitz, Poland; Touissit Mine, Morocco; Dundas, Tasmania, and Broken Hills, New South Wales, Australia; and in Tsumeb, Namibia. It occurs as an alteration product of the lead slags at Laurium, Greece. It is found only sparingly in the U.S., particularly in the Terrible Mine in Custer Co., Colorado; the Mammoth Mine in Tiger, Pinal Co., Arizona; the Stephenson-Bennet Mine in Dona Ana Co., New Mexico; and the Silver Sprout Mine in Inyo Co., California.
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