Campylite - Encyclopedia

Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
Subclass : Anhydrous phosphates
Crystal system : Hexagonal
Chemistry : Pb₅(PO₄)₃Cl
Rarity : Common

Campylite refers to a variety of pyromorphite or mimetite whose crystals are in the shape of squat barrels, with hexagonal contours, often cavernous. This variety is found in the oxidation zones of lead deposits. It is a term which relates to a particular facies and not to a specific chemical composition, it comes from the Greek kampe (curved) and lithos (stone). Campylite can adopt the colors of pyromorphite and mimetite (yellow-orange to red, brown, green of different tones).

Main photo : Campylite from Dry Gill Mine, Caldbeck, Cumbria, England © Rob Lavinsky

Campylite facies pyromorphite from Bunker Hill Mine, Idaho, USA

Campylite from Dry Gill Mine, Caldbeck, Cumbria, England © Jordi Fabre

Pyromorphite campylite facies from Giromagny, Territoire-de-Belfort, France © T. Brunsperger

Pyromorphite campylite facies from Bréziès, Aveyron, France © Max Tom

Campylite in the World

In their deposits, it is very rare that certain crystals of pyromorphite or mimetite do not adopt the campylite facies : almost all the occurrences of pyromorphite and mimetite could be recalled here (see the deposits of these minerals), in particular those of Bad Ems (Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany), Leadhills and Caldbeck Fells (UK), or Tsumeb (Namibia). The campylite facies is particularly present at the Dry Gill mine (England) where it forms centimetric yellow-orange crystals.

Campylite in France

In France, campylite is especially common at the Farges mine (Corrèze) as well as at Bréziès and Asprières (Aveyron).

Fakes and treatments

No fake identified for this mineral variety.

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