How do I identify Macphersonite?

Macphersonite can be identified by its hardness of 2.5 - 3 on the Mohs scale, Colorless color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Macphersonite?

Macphersonite typically appears in Colorless, white, very pale amber. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Macphersonite?

Macphersonite has a hardness of 2.5 - 3 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a soft mineral that can be scratched easily.

Macphersonite

A variety of Minerals

What is Macphersonite?

Macphersonite, Pb4(SO4)(CO3)2 (OH)2, is a carbonate mineral that is trimorphous with leadhillite and susannite. Macphersonite is generally white, colorless, or a pale amber in color and has a white streak. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system with a space group of Pcab. It is fairly soft mineral that has a high specific gravity. Macphersonite is named after Harry Gordon Macpherson, a keeper of minerals at the Royal Scottish Museum. It was discovered and accepted in 1984.

Macphersonite Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Macphersonite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.

Macphersonite Localities Map

See where Macphersonite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

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North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Characteristics of Macphersonite

The Leadhills macphersonite is a very pale amber to colorless in color, while the Argentolle mine macphersonite is colorless to white. It has a luster of adamantine on fresh surfaces and elsewhere it is resinous. Macphersonite is soft with a 2.5-3 on the Mohs hardness, has an uneven fracture with a high density of 6.5g/cm. Macphersonite has a very strong yellow fluorescence under both long and short wave, ultraviolet is displayed by the Leadhills specimens, the Argentolle material does not fluoresce.

Formation of Macphersonite

Macphersonite is found in the Leadhills region of southwest Scotland and in the Saint-Prix, Saône-et-Loire region of France. It is the rarest of the three polymorphs. It occurs in lead deposits associated with cerussite, susannite, caledonite, scotlandite, leadhillite, galena and pyromorphite.

Composition of Macphersonite

The structure of macphersonite is represented as a sequence of three layers stacked along the [001]. The first layer is a sulfate tetrahedra, the second is of lead and hydroxide, and the third is a layer composed of lead and carbonate. Stacking of the three layers can be detailed as ...BABCCBABCC... similar to leadhillite. Two C layers of lead carbonate in the BAB stacking provide a weak connection that leads to the perfect {001} cleavage.