Outstanding red litharge crystals associated to yellow zincite from a German locality (Hüsten, Arnsberg, Sauerland, North Rhine - Westphalia, Germany). Good contrast of red and yellow with the dark contrasting matrix. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Litharge
The orthorhombic form of lead(II) oxide — a secondary mineral of oxidized galena ores.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Litharge is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula PbO.
It crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system (space group Cmma).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2; specific gravity 9.14; Greasy to dull luster; optically uniaxial.
IMA symbol Lit, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1917.
Occurs as an alteration product of other lead-bearing minerals.
It is found associated with Lead, galena, massicot, plattnerite, hydrocerussite.
Its name comes from the Greek word given by Dioscorides to the lead oxide obtained in parting lead from silver by fire metallurgy; a name long applied to the synthetic product.