Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Galerie Peyras, les Malines, Gard, France
SIZE : 6.5 x 4.5 x 2.6 cm

This sample is a galena which has a particular crystallization. The galena crystals are acicular and reticulated. They are associated with small crystals of sphalerite (ZnS) and of wurtzite (ZnS).

The galena comes from the Peyras gallery in the mineral deposit of Malines in Gard area in France. A collector gave it to the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle in 1995.

It is currently exposed in the Treasure Room, within the Gallery of Mineralogy of the Muséum.

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

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Galena

Galène

MNHN N°195.120

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