Anglesite Gemstone: Properties, Meanings, Value & More

Anglesite is a lead sulfate mineral with potential to be a gorgeous gemstone. In addition to a fiery sparkle equal to that of diamond, anglesite’s luster can also be diamond-like.

However, the stone’s softness and lead content make it rare in gemstone form and not very wearable. As such, it’s more often a collector’s gemstone.

Rarity-wise, the minerals are quite common, but faceted anglesites are extremely rare. It’s better known industrially.

To find about anglesite’s industrial and gemstone uses, along with its prices, properties, and history, read on!

Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

About Anglesite Stone

Anglesite is a semi-precious gemstone usually reserved for display in collections. As for monikers, what is another name for anglesite? There are a few:

• Lead sulfate / Sulfate of lead

• Lead vitriol

• Lead mineralized by vitriolic acid

• Lead mineralized by vitriolic acid and iron

(Note: “Vitriolic” and “vitriol” are old terms for sulfuric or sulfur.)

On that note, what are the uses of anglesite industrially?

Anglesite Uses

At the top of beneficial applications, anglesite is an ore of lead. In fact, anglesite and cerussite are the most common secondary lead minerals, though the top lead source is galena.

Anglesite’s industrial name is lead(II) sulfate. It’s usually used in its white, heavy powdered form.

Common lead sulfate uses include:

• Paint pigments — Often used in outdoor house paints because it’s not affected by light or hydrogen sulfide (in air pollution), helping the paint avoid darkening

• Lead-acid storage (rechargeable) batteries — Can be recharged with electric current because the lead creates a controlled reaction when submerged in sulfuric acid (producing electricity), and the reaction reverses for the battery to recharge. Their affordability and large power-to-weight ratio are pros, while their short lifespan is a con.

• Laboratory reagents — Laboratory reagents are substances added to lab tests to carry out or detect a chemical reaction

• Lithography — Used as a paint drier and pigment

• Weighting fabrics — May be added to fabrics like silk to make them stiffer and heavier

• Varnishes — Used to prepare oil varnishes that dry quickly

Additionally, scientists have created synthetic anglesite crystals for geological research.

Speaking of, what are the properties of anglesite as a mineral?

Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Anglesite Specifications & Characteristics

As a lead sulfate, anglesite’s formula is PbSO4. Common impurities are barium, silver, and copper.

Anglesite’s mineral group is the barite (or baryte) group. Other members include celestite, barite, and anhydrite (angelite). Barite (barium sulfate) forms a series with anglesite.

Anglesite crystals are usually tabular, though sometimes prismatic. Other anglesite mineral habits include granular, compact, massive, nodular, stalactitic, or banded around a core of galena. Technically, anglesite has almost 200 distinct forms!

The mineral can also form as pseudomorphs after galena, which may have pseudo-cubic crystallography.

Anglesite properties listed:

• Mohs hardness: 2.5-3

• Color: Colorless, white, gray, yellowish-gray, lemon yellow, golden-yellow, brownish-orange, green, blue; Rarely violet; Sometimes multi-colored with white, colorless, and yellow zoning

• Crystal structure: Orthorhombic

• Luster: Adamantine, resinous, or vitreous (crystals); Dull or earthy (masses)

• Transparency: Transparent to opaque

• Refractive index: 1.877-1.895

• Density: 6.30-6.39

• Cleavage: Good on {001}, distinct on {210}, less distinct/in traces on {010}

• Fracture: Conchoidal

• Streak: White; Light gray if galena impurities present

• Luminescence: Weak fluorescence present - yellow or golden-yellow in SW-UV & LW-UV

• Pleochroism: None

• Birefringence: 0.017

• Dispersion: 0.044 (moderate)

Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Anglesite History

The first recorded anglesite specimens came from the Island of Anglesey in Wales, UK, specifically at the Parys copper mine. This original source inspired the name “anglesite,” but the name came years later.

Though some credit the first description of anglesite to English botanist and geologist William Withering in 1783, an earlier description came from French mineralogist Antoine-Grimoald Monnet in 1779.

Monnet called the stone Vitriol de plumb, French for “sulfuric lead.” French chemist Joseph-Louis Proust used the same name in 1787.

In 1782, Swedish chemist Torbern Bergman used a similar name, Plumbum acido vitriolico mineralisatum, meaning “Lead mineralized by sulfuric acid.”

Finally in 1832, French geologist François Sulpice Beudant coined the name “anglesite.”

Shifting gears, what are the benefits of anglesite?

Anglesite Healing Properties

As a commonly white healing stone, the anglesite crystal meaning reflects that of other white gemstones, offering purifying and protective properties. Additionally, anglesite is considered an effective crown chakra stone.

Physical Healing

Physically, anglesite is believed to help treat problems related to:

• Blood circulation

• Insomnia

• Unhealed wounds

• Skin conditions

• Blood pressure regulation

Emotional Healing

Anglesite’s metaphysical properties may also help you emotionally, as the crystal may promote relaxation and stillness, especially during meditation. It’s also said to boost mental clarity and help you manifest your desires.

Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Anglesite Gemstone Properties

Anglesite’s value depends on its color, cut, luster, clarity, transparency, carat weight, and treatments.

Color

What colors are anglesite? Most often, anglesite is white, colorless, or light yellow. It can also be green, blue, orange, gray, and shades of yellow. The rarest color is violet. Most gems are yellow, colorless, or light brown.

The cause of anglesite’s color may be elemental or mineral impurities, like brown stains from limonite or gray to black stains from galena.

Some specimens have gray and black banding when sliced, revealing an unaltered core of galena. Other anglesite stones can also be multi-colored with yellow and colorless or white zones.

Cut & Luster

Despite the high dispersion (colorful sparkle) and luster of some anglesites, their low hardness ranking, good cleavage, and lead content make faceted anglesites difficult to cut and unwise to wear. Faceted anglesite gems are quite rare and valuable for collectors, though.

Typically, anglesite occurs as prismatic crystals or earthy masses. The best crystals have a brilliant, adamantine luster. Massive specimens, like banded ones with galena in the center, may be sliced and/or polished.

Many attractive crystals are sold rough (uncut).

Clarity & Transparency

Lower clarity, meaning more visible inclusions, can lower a stone’s transparency, durability, and value. Since transparent anglesites are rarer than translucent to opaque specimens, higher transparency is more valuable.

Possible inclusions in anglesite are galena and partially healed fractures.

Carat Weight & Size

Though some facetable anglesite rough as yielded faceted gems over 100 carats, most faceted anglesites are 1-6 cts. Some exceptional, large faceted anglesites have been:

• 171.12 cts (Moroccan; orange; unknown cut)

• 169 cts (Moroccan; yellow; scissors step cut)

• 126 cts (Moroccan; pale golden-brown)

• 88.75 carats (Namibian; yellow; coffin-shaped triangle)

• 73 cts (Moroccan; yellow-orange; cushion)

As you may have guessed, most of the rough used to cut larger anglesite gems comes from Morocco and Namibia.

Well-formed anglesite crystals reach generally up to around 15 cm long.

Treatments

Treatments for anglesite aren’t common, but one exception is a group of amber-red anglesite crystals (uncut) from Morocco. In the 1980s, gemologists discovered the stones were actually colorless or pale yellow anglesites bleached to be amber-red or orangish-yellow.

The treated color was only surface-level, so it could be reversed by putting the stones in a bromide-water solution. (Note: Using bromine should be left to experts for safety).

Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Anglesite Formation & Sources

Anglesite is a secondary mineral, meaning it forms when another mineral transforms due to environmental or chemical changes. Here, lead sulfides (mainly galena) undergo oxidation, turning into anglesite.

What type of rock is anglesite found in? Anglesite is found in metamorphic rocks and weathered lead deposits, particularly the upper zones.

Mining Locations

Where is anglesite found? While the mineral is found in many locales, only some produce gem-quality crystals with desirable colors. The top sources are Namibia and Morocco. Other important locales include:

• USA (Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Utah)

• Australia

• Brazil

• Germany

• Italy

• Mexico

• Russia

• Slovenia

• Tasmania

• Tunisia

• UK (England, Scotland, Wales)

Though Anglesey Island specimens are now small and simple, older specimens are quite valuable.

Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Anglesite Price & Value

Unsurprisingly, faceted anglesites (especially large ones) are priciest.

Faceted anglesite gems range from $40 to $200 per carat, though some can reach $415 per carat. Most fall around $75 per carat.

Individual gemmy anglesite crystals range from around $40-$50 on the low end and up to $2,100+ on the high end.

Lastly, let’s go over gemstone care.

Anglesite Care and Maintenance

First and foremost, anglesite particles can be highly toxic to inhale, ingest, or contact on your skin. Plus, its low hardness means it can easily release small particles when scratched.

Here are some safety tips:

1. Don’t wear anglesite in jewelry.

2. Don’t cut, grind, or scratch the stone without proper safety procedure (e.g. ventilation, personal protective equipment, containment, and proper cleanup).

3. Wear gloves when handling anglesite and wash hands after handling.

4. Keep the stone away from pets and kids.

5. Handle the stone as infrequently as possible.

It’s best to keep anglesite in an enclosed display container. The stone is also sensitive to heat and acids.

Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Angling for An Anglesite Crystal?

Although anglesite may be more well-known for its industrial uses, its crystals are underrated display pieces. With the proper safety measures, anglesite can be a gorgeous addition to your space!

Buy anglesite and other rare gemstones today!