Cerussite from Kombat Mine, Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia

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This exquisitely brilliant, twinned crystal of cerussite is the finest known example of its species - nature's version of "lead crystal!' The highly lustrous, perfectly transparent pair of crystals is 78% lead, the remaining 22% consisting of carbon and oxygen, while man-manufactured “crystal glass” contains at most 30% lead. The play of colors seemingly trapped within the crystal results from cerussite's high refractive index and its exceptional clarity. This specimen was recovered from a mine located just 49 km south of the famous Tsumeb mine in north-central Namibia.