Phosgenite on Galena

The lead chloro-carbonate, Phosgenite, is a firm favourite among mineral collectors and the Monteponi mine, just west of the town of Iglesias, on the island of Sardinia, Italy, is perhaps Europe’s most famous location for this species (I am temped to say Bage mine in Derbyshire, but perhaps that would be bias!).  This well-priced small cabinet specimen is a fine example which displays three individual Phosgenite crystals, together with a few much smaller crystals, on a mixed Galena and Quartz matrix.  The largest Phosgenite crystal measures 2.8 x 1.0 x 0.9 cm and all are a cloudy, translucent biscuit Champaign.  Under LWUV the Phosgenite fluoresces dull, yet uniform, acidic lemon.