Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Filon Saint-Augustin, Fonstant, Var, France
SIZE : 7.5 x 5.5 x 3 cm

This is an another sample of galena. It has gray slightly flat twinned crystals and are associated with cubic crystals of colourless fluorite and small crystals of white barite.

This sample comes from the mineral deposit of Fontsant in le Var area in France. The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle could obtain it from an exchange of minerals with a collector.

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 octahedral 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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MNHN N°197.361

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