Galena
Sulfide · PbS
Galena is lead sulfide, the principal ore of lead, instantly known by its bright metallic cubes, perfect cubic cleavage and great weight.
What is galena?
Galena is lead sulfide and the chief ore of lead (and often silver). It forms bright silvery-grey cubes and cleaves into perfect little cubes when broken. It is remarkably heavy for its size thanks to its lead content, and soft enough to mark paper.
Properties
- Chemical formula
- PbS
- Category
- Sulfide
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 2.5
- Crystal system
- Cubic (isometric)
- Lustre
- Metallic
- Streak
- Lead-grey
- Colour
- Lead-grey
- Cleavage / fracture
- Perfect cubic (three directions)
How to identify galena
- →Bright metallic lead-grey, tarnishing duller with time.
- →Perfect cubic cleavage: it breaks into stepped cubes.
- →Very heavy (high density) for its size.
- →Soft, hardness 2.5, and a grey streak.
Where galena is found
Galena is found worldwide in hydrothermal veins. Classic specimens come from the Tri-State district (USA), England, Germany and Bulgaria.
Galena finds on minShelf
Real specimens catalogued by collectors.
Think you've found galena?
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