Cerussite

specimen number:
8311442

location:
Nakhlak Mine, Anarak, Nain Co., Isfahan, Iran

description:

An attractive sparkling white reticulated wind crystal grouping of cerussite without matrix. This is in really good condition. Neat all around.

The Nakhlak Mine, located near the town of Anarak in the Nain County of Isfahan Province, Iran, is one of the oldest and most historically significant lead mines in the Middle East. Geologically, it is a Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) or related hydrothermal deposit hosted within Cretaceous-aged dolomitic limestones, where mineralization occurs in complex vein systems and replacement bodies. The mine is world-renowned for its exceptional specimens of cerussite, particularly its magnificent reticulated and "snowflake" twins, which exhibit high luster and a distinctive creamy white to colorless transparency. Historically, mining and quarrying at Nakhlak have been conducted intermittently for over 2,000 years, with ancient "shaduf" style workings dating back to the Sassanid era or earlier. Modern industrial-scale operations began in the late 1930s, and the mine has remained a consistent producer of lead concentrates for nearly a century. As of 2026, Nakhlak continues as an active underground operation and remains a top-tier locality for mineralogists studying the crystallization of lead carbonates in arid environments.

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