Galena (mineral)
| Galena | |
|---|---|
Galena (Lead sulfide) | |
| General | |
| Category | Mineral |
| Chemical formula | lead sulfide (PbS) |
| Identification | |
| Colour | Lead gray, silvery |
| Crystal habit | Cubes, tabular and sometimes skeletal crystals |
| Crystal system | Isometric |
| Cleavage | Cubic |
| Fracture | Flat (when cubic) to even |
| Mohs Scale hardness | 2.5 – 2.75 |
| Luster | Metallic |
| Refractive index | Opaque |
| Pleochroism | None |
| Streak | Lead gray |
| Specific gravity | 7.4 – 7.6 |
| Fusibility | ? |
| Solubility | ? |
| Major varieties | |
| None | |
Galena is a lead ore. This article describes Galena's mineral properties. In its chemically purified form, Galena is known as Lead Sulfide; refer to that article for chemical and industrial uses.
Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulfide minerals, and is the most common ore of lead. Crystals are usually cubic, sometimes octahedral. It is often associated with the minerals sphalerite and fluorite. Galena deposits sometimes contain significant amounts of silver as an impurity, and these galenas have long been the most important ore of silver in mining.
Galena deposits are found in Germany, France, Romania, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Scotland, England, Australia, and Mexico. In the United States it occurs in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Montana, and Wisconsin.
Galena is the official state mineral of Missouri and Wisconsin, USA.
See also
Categories: Minerals | Sulfide minerals | Geology stubs