Minium Specimen #1

This rare Minium specimen is from an unusual location - the Tsumeb Mine, Namibia. You will receive the exact specimen pictured. Minium is the naturally occurring form of lead tetroxide and is also known as Red Lead. Historically Minium was used as a pigment by artists due to the bright orange - red colour it gives. The Romans referred to both Cinnabar and Red Lead as Minium, however, the name Minium is now exclusively used to refer to this mineral, and shouldn't be used as an alias for Cinnabar. The name Minium derives from the from the river Minius, now called Minho, in Iberia close to where the Roman Cinnabar Mines were located.