Mineralpedia Details for Galena
Galena
Named for the Latin word galena which was given to lead ore or the dross from melted lead. Galena is a common mineral and widespread mineral with thousands of localities worldwide. Noted deposits include in the United States, the Czech Republic, Germany, France, England, Scotland, and Mexico. The most important ore of lead, Galena occurs in many environments including hydrothermal veins, contact metamorphic deposits, pegmatites, limestones, and dolostones.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/galena.pdf
- Formula
- PbS
- Crystal System
- Isometric
- Crystal Habit
- Euhedral Crystals, Massive - Granular, Massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect, Perfect, Perfect
- Luster
- Metallic
- Color
- light lead gray, dark lead gray
- Streak
- grayish black
- Class
- Isometric - Hexoctahedral
- Fracture
- Brittle
- Hardness
- 2.5
- WebMineral
- View Galena
- Mindat
- View Galena
Galena from Sweetwater mine, Viburnum Trend, Reynolds Co., Missouri, United States
Cubo-octahedral crystals to 1cm
Galena from Dal'negorsk, Primorsky Kray, Russia
Galena composed of several different forms and combinations of cubo-octahedrons to 4cm.
Galena from Pfannenberger mine, Salchendorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Nice octahedral crystals of Galena to 1cm with cavernous growth and associated with black Sphalerite.
Galena from Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, United States
Large impressive cleavable mass of Galena. Heavy.
Galena from Tsumeb mine, Tsumeb, Namibia
Galena was the most important lead mineral at Tsumeb. Though crystals are uncommon. This is but a small cluster with good cubo-octahedral crystals to 1cm showing etched patterns.
Galena from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
An interested, not cleaved, stair-stepped Galena crystals to 1cm.
Galena from Black Jack mine, Galena, Jo Daviess Co., Illinois, United States
The crystals to 2cm are a dull luster, are smooth, sharp and well defined.
The history of this large district, which extends into Wisconsin and Iowa, dates back to 1845. Mining in this district peaked in 1916 during World War I and is said to have had the longest recorded production history in the United States. A good article on MVT deposits can be found in Rocks & Minerals, v64 n1 1989 by Rayond Lasmanis. Much of the information in this Special Edition was found in this excellent article.
Galena from Septemvri mine, Madan dist., Rhodope Mts, Smolyan Oblast, Bulgaria
An excellent cubic Galena crystal to 2cm showing corners which grew faster than the centers during crystal growth. There is also brassy gold Chalcopyrite. The base is needle Quartz. Classic locality.
Galena with Sphalerite from Lengenbach quarry, Binn Valley, Wallis, Switzerland
A basic mineral occurence from this hugely important species and sulfosalt locality. These crystals are sharp and lustrous. The Galena (4mm) is directly associated with the Spalerite (5mm). Originally from the Museum in Bern.
Galena from Tri-State dist., Cherokee Co., Kansas, United States
A larger cabinet specimen of 1.5 to 2cm Galena cubes with deep red Sphalerite crystals. the Sphalerite over grows a preffered side of the Galena. Sits and displays perfectly.
Galena from 2nd Sovetskii mine, Dal'negorsk, Primorskiy Kray, Russia
A nice, clean, damage free Galena crystal to 2cm with several 5mm crystals with jet black, lustrous Sphalerite crystals.
Galena from Buick mine, Reynolds Co., Missouri, United States
This is a nice group of Galena crystals of which most are about 1cm and all showing good cubo-octahedral forms.
Galena from Madan dist, Rhodope Mts, Smolyan Oblast, Bulgaria
A nice cluster of Galena cubes with the largest crystal at 2cm.
Galena from Sunshine mine, Kellogg, Shoshone Co., Idaho, United States
1 lb 9 oz pure mass of galena with slickenside.
Galena is the most common lead mineral and is widely distributed. Galena is also the most important lead ore with 86.6% lead. About 66% of lead produced is used in lead-acid storage batteries.
Galena from Darwin mine, Inyo Co., California, United States
A great educational specimen with vein Galena and oxidized core with Anglesite/Cerusite formation. 2 lbs 6 oz 2-3cm wide vein.
Galena from Sullivan mine, Kimberly, British Columbia, Canada
Large textbook example of stratiform sulfide mineralization.
Galena from Occidental mine, Sheridan, Madison Co., Montana, United States
A chunk of Quartz with fractured filled sulfides mostly Galena on the outer edges with increasing phase to dark grey crude crystals of Bournonite. Nice specimen from this little known, historic mine.
Galena from Huanzala mine, Huallanca dist., Huánuco, Peru
Octahedral Galena crystals to 1.2cm and brilliant silvery and flash Galena crystals as modified cubes to 7mm with Pyrite.
Galena from Picher, Tri-State Dist., Oklahoma, United States
This is a large cabinet specimen and may cost extra to ship. It is 15cm acrss with cubic crystals to 2.3cm.
crystal group of Galena in which has several individual crystals to 5cm. It is a very impressive specimen with an overgrowth of excellent Marcasite crystals which average about 3mm each. The peice comes from one of the richest lead-zinc deposits ever mined, which is the Tri-State district of the US.
Galena from Red Dog mine, Lisburne dist., Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska, United States
Heavy rich mass of mostly Galena with other sulfieds.
Galena from Elmo mine, Lafayette Co., Wisconsin, United States
An exceptional piece from this historic district and mine. The district itself dates back to 1827, when lead was discovered in Wisconsin.
Galena from Lucky Friday mine, Coeur d'Alene dist., Shoshone Co., Idaho, United States
Granular to coarse chunk of Galena, the primary ore of lead.
Galena from Ivigtut mine, Arsuk Fjord, Sermersooq, Greenland
A thin 5mm layer of granular Galena with what looks like murky micro crystals of Anglesite, unreported from Ivigtut. This is according to the Ralph Merril label. He also notes "May have mineral A - Can. Min. 10, 871.
Galena from Trevinnick mine, St. Kew, Cornwall, England
Mass of granular Galena. Large.
