Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Dal'negorsk, Russia
SIZE : 10 x 10 x 5.4 cm

This sample is made of crystals of galena. It has pseudocubic gray crystals of galena.

One can see an octahedral darker crystal nearly in the centre of the sample, this crystal is sphalerite, the other small white crystals are calcite. They formed in the interstices of the galena.

The sample comes from Dal'negorsk in Russia, and was acquired thanks to support of Total.

It is currently exposed in the Treasure Room, within the Gallery of Mineralogy of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle.

Photography: A. Dahmane / Photo Saint-Hilaire, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Galena

HISTORY : Name inspired by the Greek word "γαλένε" [galêne] meaning "lead" and by Latin "galena" meaning "lead mineral"

Species described by Cauis Plinius Secundus better known as Pliny the Elder (23-79 après J.C.), an ancient author, naturalist or natural philosopher and naval and military commander

Type-locality: unknown
ANCIENT NAME : Mine de plomb grise, plomb sulfuré

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Pb S
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Cubic
COLOR : Lead gray
DIAPHANIETY : Opaque
LUSTER : Metallic
STREAK : Gray
MORPHOLOGY : Cubic crystals, seldomly cubo-octahedra or octahedra crystals
HARDNESS : 2,5-2,75
DENSITY : 7,57

CHEMICAL CLASS : II - Sulfides, arsenides
GROUP : Galena
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 2/C.15-40
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 2.CD.10

Explore the Mineral Treasures of the Muséum

Welcome to
the Virtual Gallery of Mineralogy

Galena

Galena

MNHN N°192.32

general description

The Species page

Mineralogy