Arrowhead Cerussite Crystal ,BHP Mine, Broken Hill, NSW. Australia. (EA12158) For Sale

This fine cerussite specimen from the Broken Hill Proprietary Mine in New South Wales features a sharply defined arrowhead twin measuring 34 × 27 × 20 mm and weighing 27 grams. The crystal exhibits the classic V-shaped penetration twin for which cerussite is well known, with highly lustrous, transparent to translucent faces that refract light across its internal planes. Subtle smoky-grey tones accentuate the twinning geometry, while clean edges and minimal surface disruptions highlight its excellent preservation. The symmetry and clarity of the twin give the specimen a refined, sculptural appearance.

Broken Hill is one of the world’s most celebrated lead–zinc–silver deposits, renowned for producing exceptional cerussite crystals throughout the 20th century. Cerussite forms as a secondary mineral when lead sulphide (galena) undergoes oxidation, allowing carbonated fluids to react with exposed lead-bearing surfaces. Twinning is common in cerussite due to its orthorhombic structure, with the arrowhead twin habit developing under stable, low-temperature surface conditions. Geological processes within the oxidised zone of the Broken Hill lodes created ideal conditions for these distinctive twins, many of which are preserved as classic specimens in collections worldwide.

In this example, the penetration twin shows crisp junctions between the two limbs, with strong internal reflections that emphasise the specimen’s transparency. The high vitreous lustre enhances the twinning planes, while faint internal zoning adds depth when illuminated. The crystal’s compact size and full three-dimensional form allow it to be displayed securely from multiple angles, each revealing the complexity of its optical and structural features.

Collected in the 1960s and preserved within the Jo Price Collection, this cerussite represents classic old-time Broken Hill material from the mine’s oxidised zone. Arrowhead twins of this clarity and sharpness are increasingly scarce, making this a desirable piece for collectors of lead carbonates, Broken Hill minerals, or twinned crystal forms. As both an aesthetic specimen and a geological record of oxidation processes within one of Australia’s most significant ore bodies, it exemplifies the fine cerussite for which Broken Hill is historically renowned.