Galena (2) Raw Minerals Stones Rocks Collecting

Description

Origin : Illinois (USA)

Galena 20-35 gr - cm 2-3 Raw Minerals Stones Rocks for Collection.

Galena is a lead sulfide. The name derives from the ancient Greek physician Galen (2nd century BC). First described by Pliny the Elder as lead ore.
Galena often contains sensitive percentages of silver, for this reason it is also known as galena argentifera or argentiferous lead.
The crystalline habit is in cubes, octahedra and their combinations, rarely in laminae and geminates. The surface of the crystals is often rough, sometimes covered with quartz, calcite and chalcopyrite.
It is found mainly in Phylonian deposits of hydrothermal origin, accompanied by different types of gangue (for example calcite, quartz, fluorite and barite).
When galena emerges on the surface, it can often be found altered by the action of atmospheric agents and partially transformed into lead carbonates, oxides and sulphates.
It occurs in lead-gray cubic crystals, granular aggregates, coarse or compact, skeletal or in stalactites.
The largest deposits are found in the United States, England, Australia, Germany, Mexico and the Czech Republic.
In our country it is located in northern Italy and Sardinia.
It is the main mineral useful for lead mining. In the past, galena was mined more for its silver content until the last century, before the price of silver plummeted.
It was also used as a component for paints, then abandoned due to the high toxicity of lead.