Mineralpedia Details for Linarite

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Linarite

Named after the type locality at Linares in Spain. Linarite is a common mineral with hundreds of localities worldwide including in, additionally, Italy, England, Scotland, Japan, Australia, the United States, and Namibia among many others. Although common and widespread, it is an uncommon mineral at its localities and is found in only small amounts as a secondary mineral in oxidized lead-copper deposits.

Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/linarite.pdf

Formula: PbCuSO₄(OH)₂
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Crystal Habit: Prismatic, Platy, Encrustations
Cleavage: Perfect, Distinct, None
Luster: Vitreous (Glassy)
Color: sky blue, deep blue
Streak: light blue
Class: Monoclinic - Prismatic
Fracture: Conchoidal
Hardness: 2.5
WebMineral: View Linarite
Mindat: View Linarite

Linarite from Tsumeb mine, Tsumeb, Namibia

Very nice glassy, deep blue sprays composed of bladed crystals to 3mm.

Fine , minute, crystalline Linarite (blue) and Brochantite (green) covering Cerussite. Note color zones.

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Linarite from Grand Reef mine, Graham Co., Arizona, United States

Excellent prismatic deep blue Linarite crystals both free standing in a vug to about 2mm.

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Linarite from Blanchard mine, Socorro Co., New Mexico, United States

Beautiful deep blue Linarite on Quartz/Galena matrix and a 1cm Linarite on or replacing Galena.

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Linarite from Brown Monster mine, Inyo Co., California, United States

There are numerous flat lying blue Linarite crystals to 2-3mm on quartz matrix associated with equally nice lighter blue Caledonite crystals.

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Linarite from Bingham dist., Socorro Co., New Mexico, United States

Large specimen loaded with shiny, deep blue, platy Linarite crystals.

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LINARITE from Leadhills, Lanarkshire, Scotland

There is a thin 1mm open seam filled with paper thin blue Linarite crystals. There are probably other minerals, perhaps rare, on this specimen.

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Linarite from San Antonio mine, Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico

Deep, lustrous blue thin bladed crystals with a bit of Rosasite.

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Linarite from Old Dutch level, Red Gill mine, Caldbeck Fells, Cumbria, England

The specimen has two sides which have Linarite. The side shown in the photos are from the front side. There are numerous, very nice, deep blue thick bladed crystals in many vugs across the faceand are mostly 1mm, however there is a few to 3mm. One of the labels with the specimen states the the Linarite from Red Gill is "now rare". I don't know if that is true or not.