Galena (mineral) - Definition and Overview

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 mineral, an ore of lead, lead sulfide (PbS). Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulfide minerals, and is the main 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 from Poland

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

• List of minerals
• PbS, for a description of its use in infra-red sensors.