Description
A soft malleable heavy metal, bluish white when cut, but soon tarnishes to a dull greyish colour when exposed to air.
Uses
Building industry for flashings, lead-acid batteries, bullets and shot, weights, pewter, fusible alloys, and as a radiation shield. It was formerly used in water pipes, solder and as an additive in petrol.
Principal Ores – all are noticeably heavy
- Galena (Lead Sulphide, PbS) – metallic, lead grey in colour
- Cerussite (Lead Carbonate, PbCO3) – usually white or grey in colour
- Anglesite (Lead Sulphate, PbSO4) – usually white or colourless in colour
