Galena
Species
Common · PbS
Lead sulfide and the primary ore of lead. Crystallises in perfect cubic forms with characteristic metallic sheen. Its high density and perfect cubic cleavage make it immediately recognisable in hand specimen.
Identity
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Habits
- Cubic, Octahedral, Massive
- Fracture
- Subconchoidal
Physical properties
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 7.6 g/cm³
- Luster
- Metallic
- Colors
- lead-gray
- Streak
- lead-gray
- Transparency
- Opaque
Geology
- Origins
- Hydrothermal
- Host rocks
- Limestone and chalk, Sandstone, shale and clay
- Associated minerals
- Sphalerite, Pyrite, Calcite, Barite
- Found in
- Hydrothermal vein (lode), Volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit
- Geography
- worldwide
Classification
- Rarity
- Common
- Gem quality
- No
Sources
- M. Pasero and others, IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification, The New IMA List of Minerals, updated September 2026. International Mineralogical Association (CNMNC), 2026.
- Galena. Mindat.org (Hudson Institute of Mineralogy).
- J. W. Anthony, R. A. Bideaux, K. W. Bladh, M. C. Nichols, Galena. Mineral Data Publishing, Handbook of Mineralogy, 2001.
Browse the Crystal Encyclopedia — MGS Toolbox