Cerussite

specimen number:
2133339

location:
Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

description:
Crystallized cerussite across the top of matrix. Nice reference example for the locality and species. The specimen comes with an antique label from The Lesnicks as seen at the end of the video.

The Broken Hill mining district, located in the far west of New South Wales, Australia, is home to one of the largest and most famous silver-lead-zinc deposits in the world. Geologically, the deposit is a massive, stratiform, metamorphosed volcanic-associated massive sulfide (VMS) body hosted within the Paleoproterozoic metamorphic rocks of the Willyama Supergroup, formed roughly 1.7 billion years ago. The structural architecture consists of a highly folded, boomerang-shaped lode characterized by dense accumulations of galena, sphalerite, and a spectacular suite of secondary minerals in its oxidized upper zones. The historical timeline of the district began in September 1883 when boundary rider Charles Rasp discovered gossan outcrops on a distinctive rocky ridge, leading to the formation of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP) in 1885. Commercial extraction exploded rapidly, turning the isolated outback settlement into a major industrial center that drove Australia's economic modernization throughout the 20th century. Underground and open-cut operations have run continuously for more than 140 years, with major historical shafts progressively consolidating over the decades under various multinational companies, and mechanized deep-shaft extraction continues to actively target the remaining ore bodies well into the 2020s.

The Lesnicks were prominent American mineral dealers who operated a highly respected specimen business from their residence at 1454 Odell Street in the Bronx, New York, during the mid-to-late 20th century. Specializing in high-quality, aesthetic mineral specimens, they became familiar and influential figures on the eastern United States mineral show circuit, traveling extensively to exhibit and sell materials at major events. Their home on Odell Street served as a central hub for local collectors, mineralogists, and members of the New York Mineralogical Club, who frequently visited to browse their carefully curated stock of worldwide minerals and domestic classics. Active through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, the Lesnicks were widely recognized for their deep mineralogical knowledge, friendly mentorship of amateur hobbyists, and their commitment to sourcing well-crystallized pieces that eventually populated major private collections and museum archives across the region.

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