Clausthalite

Clausthalite
General
Category	Selenide mineral
Formula	PbSe
IMA symbol	Cth1
Strunz classification	2.CD.10
Dana classification	02.08.01.02
Crystal system	Isometric
Crystal class	Hexoctahedral (m3m) H-M symbol: (4/m 3 2/m)
Space group	Fm3m
Identification
Color	Bluish gray to lead-gray
Crystal habit	Massive to granular with euhedral crystals
Cleavage	{001} Perfect, {010} Perfect, {100} Perfect
Mohs scale hardness	2.5
Luster	Metallic
Streak	grayish black
Diaphaneity	opaque
Specific gravity	7.6–8.8
References	2345

Clausthalite is a lead selenide mineral, PbSe. It forms a solid solution series with galena PbS.

It occurs in low-sulfur hydrothermal deposits with other selenides and in mercury deposits. It is associated with tiemannite, klockmannite, berzelianite, umangite, gold, stibiopalladinite and uraninite.³

It was first described in 1832 and named for the discovery locality of Clausthal-Zellerfeld in the Harz Mountains, Germany.⁵