Galena

Lead Sulfide PbS

Galena has been mined for lead and silver since the time of the Romans. It is the mineral form of lead sulfide.

The chemical formula is PbS. It is the most important source of lead and is abundant and widespread in occurance.

Galena most often has a cubic crystal form. It is a soft mineral about 2.5 on the Mohs Scale. The color ranges from silvery to dull gray with a dull gray-black streak and a metallic luster.

Galena is found in hydrothermal ore veins associated with chalcopyrite and quartz. It is also found in metamorphic and sedimentary rocks.

In the United States galena is found in the Mississippi Valley. Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin all have significant deposits. The Rocky Mountain States of Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Montana also have significant deposits.

Mineral Properties

Chemical formula: Lead Sulfide PbS
Color(s): gray to black
Streak: black, dark gray
Luster: metallic, dull
Transparency: opaque
Crystal system: cubic
Specific Gravity: 7.2-7.6
Hardness (Mohs): 2.5
Cleavage: perfect, cube
Fracture: spathic, brittle to soft
Uses: lead ore, mineral specimens
Location: Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin all have significant deposits. The Rocky Mountain States of Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and Montana also have significant deposits.

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