Gordaite on Cerussite, Block 14 Opencut, Broken Hill, NSW
Size 5cm x 5cm
Gordaite is a rare sodium zinc sulphate mineral that occured rarely at broken hill. On this speciman it occurs as tiny clear hexagonal plate like crystals, very much like mica. These tiny crystals, viewed under the microscope, are laying flat on the cerussite crystals, and actually give the cerussite crystals a dirty looking coating. As a cerussite speciman you wouldn't bother collecting it ! I noticed these crystals while cleaning a couple of specimans and had them tested at the south australian museum.
The last two photos show the back of the speciman which has black coronadinite, cerussite crystals and micro sized blocky anglesite crystals. Although its not that attractive, it is a good example of gordaite from broken hill in a larger size.