Absorption and emission spectra of impurity clusters and precipitates in NaCl:Pb have been measured. The results from emission kinetics measurements reveal a complicated behaviour in the 330 nm band usually ascribed to PbCl2—like phase. The band with a maximum at 380 nm appears in the emission spectrum of this crystal after fast quenching from 500[ddot]C to RT. The corresponding lifetime is close to the value of isolated lead centres. We suggest that it belongs to small lead clusters with NaCl structure.