Color is red, scarlet to brick-red. Luster is greasy to adamantine. Crystals are opaque. Also massive and granular. Crystals are generally well striated.
Cleavage is perfect in several directions.
Fracture is uneven. Hardness is 2.5 - 3. Streak is orange yellow. Associated Minerals include massicot , galena , wulfenite , pyromorphite , mimetite , bindheimite , cerussite , lead , duftite and sphalerite . Best Field Indicators are color, crystal habit, streak, density and softness.