336g Cleaved Galena & Fluorescent Cerussite • Palmer Mine MO • Keith Collection For Sale

• ​Locality: Old Palmer Mine, Palmer Mining District, Washington County, Missouri

• ​Provenance: Ex. Keith Collection

• ​Primary Minerals: Galena (Lead Sulfide), Cerussite (Lead Carbonate)

• ​Optical Properties: Cerussite is Fluorescent (Glows yellow under UV light)

• ​Weight: 336 Grams (11.8 oz)

• ​Dimensions: 2.25" x 1.25" x 1.5"

• ​Condition: Raw, natural field-collected state, unpolished

​Historic Provenance: The Keith Collection

Welcome to KeepsCache. We are proud to offer this incredibly dense, 336-gram natural reference specimen from the Old Palmer Mine in Washington County, Missouri. Formerly housed in the noted Keith Collection, this old-stock geological specimen captures the heavy lead mineralization of the historic Missouri mining districts.

​The Mineral Assemblage

This unpolished specimen is a textbook example of primary lead ore undergoing secondary alteration:

• ​The Matrix (Galena): The bulk of this specimen is a massive, heavy block of Galena. It features the classic metallic-gray luster and highly visible, stepped cubic cleavage planes that are a hallmark of the region's primary lead sulfide deposits.

• ​The Fluorescent Alteration (Cerussite): Nestled into a pocket on the surface of the galena is a distinct, yellowish crust of Cerussite. As the galena oxidizes over time, it naturally alters into this lead carbonate. This specific cerussite pocket is highly active under ultraviolet light, glowing a bright, distinct yellow to make this a fantastic fluorescent display piece.

​Measuring 2.25 inches across and weighing well over half a pound, this is an incredibly heavy, dense miniature cabinet specimen. It remains entirely unworked, offering a pristine look at the historic hard-rock geology of the dir="ltr" style="margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0;">Old Palmer Mine MO, Washington County Missouri, Keith Collection minerals, KeepsCache, cleaved galena, lead ore, fluorescent cerussite, UV reactive mineral, midwest rockhound, unpolished cabinet mineral, historic mining artifact, Missouri lead belt.