Galena (PbS)

Galena Group.

Galena is the primary ore mineral of lead. Worked for its lead content as early as 3000 BC, it
is found in ore veins with sphalerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, tennantite-tetrahedrite, etc. and in
skarns, as well as in sedimentary rocks where it may replace carbonate beds or be
deposited in pore spaces. The crystals are bright when fresh but often tarnish after exposure
to air.

Physical Properties of Galena

Lustre : Metallic, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency) : Opaque
Colour : Lead-grey
Streak : Lead-grey
Hardness (Mohs) : 2½
Hardness (Vickers) : VHN100=79 - 104 kg/mm2
Tenacity : Brittle
Cleavage : Perfect
{001}Parting:{111}
Fracture : Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured) : 7.58 g/cm3
Density (calculated) : 7.57 g/cm3

Crystallography of Galena
Crystal System : Isometric
Class (H-M) : m3m (4/m 3 2/m) – Hexoctahedral
Space Group : Fm3m {F4/m 3 2/m}
Cell Parameters : a = 5.936Å
Unit Cell Volume : V 209.16 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z : 4
Morphology : Cubes, octahedrons, cube-octahedron combinations and
rarely dodecahedrons
Twinning : Spinel {111}, Lamellar {114}
Galena : PbS, Marcasite : FeS2

Locality: Cadjebut mine, Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley, Derby-West Kimberley Shire,

Western Australia, Australia
Measures FOV 10mm x 10mm. Photograph C.Mercer

Galena : PbS

Locality: Pleschitzkogel, Hirt, Friesach - Hüttenberg area, Carinthia, Austria

xtl size 0,8 mm; Chris Auer photo and collection (ex G.Indra coll., found 1990)
Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS

Locality: Martis Mine, Ratteingraben, Waitschach, Hüttenberg, Friesach - Hüttenberg area,

Carinthia, Austria
xtl size 1,3 mm; Chris Auer photo and collection (ex G.Indra coll., found 1997)

Galena : PbS

Locality: Bleiberg District, Gailtaler

Alpen & Karnische Alpen, Carinthia,
Austria
Rounded octahedral galena crystals
on matrix with minor white barite
crystals. The galena has minor
overgrowth of quartz micro-crystals.
Ex. R. Bates Collection #1215.Overall
size of mineral specimen: 5x4x3
cm.Size of individual crystals: 5-12
mm.
Galena : PbS, Siderite : FeCO3, Baryte : BaSO4

Locality: Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen, Carinthia, Austria
Octahedrons to 2 cm along the edge. Specimen size: 5 x 3.5 x 3 cm. P Haas photograph
and collection (no. 23-087).

Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS

Locality: Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen, Carinthia, Austria
Nice specimen with galena octahedrons, forming a mountain ridge with brown sphalerite to
the sides, and minor calcite. Formerly in the collection of Wilhelm Anderberg (1827-71), size
80 x 90 x 130 (mm). A. Österlöf photo
School of Mines collection
Luleå University of Technology
Sweden
Galena : PbS, Baryte : BaSO4

Locality: Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen, Carinthia, Austria
Well formed ,sharp, minor stepped black-grew octahedral galena crystals embedded
in white blady baryte xx
Widht of the view : 6,5 cm

Galena : PbS

Locality: Bleiberg District,

Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische
Alpen, Carinthia, Austria
Galena. Specimen is from the
collection of the Smithsonian
Institute, Washington DC. USA.
#B3845. Scale at bottom of
image is an inch with a rule at
one cm.

This photo has been shown 218

times
Galena : PbS, Baryte : BaSO4, Pyrite : FeS2, Anglesite : PbSO4

Locality: Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen, Carinthia, Austria
A mass of interlocking octahedra of galena with little interstice areas of barite with minor
pyrite and anglesite. Nice old specimen measures 2.25" across.
David Johnson Collection

Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS

Locality: Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen, Carinthia, Austria
Size: 72x44x22mm with galena crystals up to 18mm
A very attractive specimen from the famous location in carinthia.
Markus Rosenkranz collection (Stoafex78)
Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS, Quartz : SiO2, Rhodochrosite : MnCO3

Locality: Hercules Mine, Mt Read, Williamsford, Rosebery district, Tasmania, Australia

Classic micro fron the Hercules mine. Specimen is 30x15mm. Ex Keith lancaster collection.
Specimen and Photo A.Tuma

Galena : PbS, Ankerite : Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2

Locality: Great South Comet mine, Dundas mineral field, Zeehan District, Tasmania,
Australia
Galena Crystals on Ankerite (the source of the crocoite and cerussite. FOV 21mm.
Specimen and Photograph A.Tuma. Collected in 2002
Galena : PbS, Quartz : SiO2, Calcite : CaCO3

Locality: Renison Bell Mine (Renison Mine), North Dundas, Zeehan district, Tasmania,
Australia
A large specimen over 300mm wide from the Renison bell mine. Part of Renison Bell Mine
display at the Zeehan Mineral fair 2009. Photograph A. Tuma, N-D60.105m

Galena : PbS, Marcasite : FeS2, Sphalerite : ZnS

Locality: Cadjebut mine, Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley, Derby-West Kimberley Shire,

Western Australia, Australia
galena with marcasite and sphalerite. size: 30x15 mm. photo 12-17-2010.
Galena : PbS, Baryte : BaSO4, Calcite : CaCO3

Locality: Rudolf Mine (Rudolf Shaft), Bad Bleiberg, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen &
Karnische Alpen, Carinthia, Austria
FOV: 13cm x 10cm.
Transparent Calcite crystals have overgrown Galena octahedrons and white Baryte crystals.

Galena : PbS, Calcite : CaCO3, Baryte : BaSO4, Sphalerite : ZnS

Locality: Rudolf Mine (Rudolf Shaft), Bad Bleiberg, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen &
Karnische Alpen, Carinthia, Austria
Size: 240x150x90mm !!!
max. size of the galenacrystals 35mm !!!
weight: 3900g
A attractive and big specimen from the famous location in carinthia.
In this size very hard to obtain!
Markus Rosenkranz collection (Stoafex78)
Galena : PbS, Calcite : CaCO3

Locality: Rudolf Mine (Rudolf Shaft), Bad Bleiberg, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen &
Karnische Alpen, Carinthia, Austria
FOV: 11cm.
Helmut Prasnik Collection

Galena : PbS, Baryte : BaSO4

Locality: Rudolf Mine (Rudolf Shaft), Bad Bleiberg, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen &
Karnische Alpen, Carinthia, Austria
FOV: 10cm.
Helmut Prasnik Collection
Galena : PbS, Baryte : BaSO4, Sphalerite : ZnS

Locality: Rudolf Mine (Rudolf Shaft), Bad Bleiberg, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen &
Karnische Alpen, Carinthia, Austria
Size: 85x65x30mm
max. length of the edges of the galenacrystals 33mm !!!
A very esthetic and one of my favourite specimen from the famous location in carinthia.
Markus Rosenkranz collection (Stoafex78)

Galena : PbS, Baryte : BaSO4, Calcite : CaCO3

Locality: Rudolf Mine (Rudolf Shaft), Bad Bleiberg, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen &
Karnische Alpen, Carinthia, Austria
10cm wide.
Ernst Kreuzer Collection
Galena : PbS, Calcite : CaCO3

Locality: Rudolf Mine (Rudolf Shaft), Bad Bleiberg, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen &
Karnische Alpen, Carinthia, Austria
12cm wide.
Ernst Kreuzer Collection

Galena : PbS, Baryte : BaSO4, Siderite : FeCO3, Cerussite : PbCO3

Locality: Stefanie Mine, Bad Bleiberg, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen,
Carinthia, Austria
Galena octahedrons up to 2.2 cm tip-to-tip, partly covered with tiny cerussite crystals and
associated with siderite and baryte.
Christian Bracke Collection.
Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS, Calcite : CaCO3, Baryte : BaSO4

Locality: Stefanie Mine, Bad Bleiberg, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen,
Carinthia, Austria
Size: 67x65x29mm with galena crystals up to 22mm
A attractive specimen with lot of different minerals from the famous location in carinthia.
Markus Rosenkranz collection (Stoafex78)

Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS, Calcite : CaCO3, Marcasite : FeS2

Locality: Stefanie Mine, Bad Bleiberg, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen,
Carinthia, Austria
FOV: 6cm x 6cm. Size of the Galena octahedrons: up to 2,5cm.
Galena : PbS, Calcite : CaCO3, Marcasite : FeS2

Locality: Stefanie Mine, Bad Bleiberg, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen,
Carinthia, Austria
Size: 108x98x60mm
max. size of the galenacrystals 24mm
weight: 591g. A attractive floater specimen from the famous location in carinthia.
Markus Rosenkranz collection (Stoafex78)

Galena : PbS, Baryte : BaSO4

Locality: Stefanie Mine, Bad Bleiberg, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen,
Carinthia, Austria
FOV: 14cm.
Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS

Locality: Max Mine, Kreuth, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen, Carinthia,
Austria
10cm wide.
Perfectly shaped Galena octahedrons in wonderful contrast with brown Sphalerite.

Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS, Dolomite : CaMg(CO3)2

Locality: Max Mine, Kreuth, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen, Carinthia,
Austria
Size of the Galena crystals: 1,8 cm.
Very aesthetic combination of Galena octahedrons and Sphalerite bundles on Dolomite.
Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS, Dolomite : CaMg(CO3)2

Locality: Max Mine, Kreuth, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen, Carinthia,
Austria
Size of big Galena crystal on an edge: 4 cm.

Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS

Locality: Max Mine, Kreuth, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen, Carinthia,
Austria
11cm wide.
Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS, Calcite : CaCO3, Marcasite : FeS2

Locality: Max Mine, Kreuth, Bleiberg District, Gailtaler Alpen & Karnische Alpen, Carinthia,
Austria
FOV: 12 x 10cm.

Galena : PbS, Fluorapatite : Ca5(PO4)3F

Locality: Laggerhof, Millstatt lake, Spittal, Millstatt lake ridge, Carinthia, Austria
galena in pegmatite, aggregate size 3 mm; Chris Auer photo and collection, self collected
Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS

Locality: Wildfrauengrotte, Teschengraben, Krieglach, Fischbacher Alpen, Styria, Austria

unique specimen; vug size 1,3 mm; Chris Auer photo and collection, self collected in 2007

Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS

Locality: Kaltenegg, Southern District, Prinzkogel mines, Prinzkogel (Prinzenkogel),

Rettenegg, Fischbacher Alpen, Styria, Austria
FOV 13 mm; Chris Auer photo and collection, self collected in 2012
Galena : PbS, Rhodochrosite : MnCO3

Locality: Friedlkogel, Kaiblinggraben, Kleinveitsch, Veitsch, Mitterdorf, Styria, Austria

rare speck of galena (EDX analysed by F.Bernhard-Graz) and minor pyrite on rhodochrosite;
FOV 2,5mm; Chris Auer photo and collection, self collected in 2005

Galena : PbS

Locality: Slag dumps, Walchen, Öblarn, Niedere Tauern, Styria, Austria

rare galena, largest xtl 1,0 mm; Chris Auer photo and collection, self collected in 1986
Galena : PbS, Calcite : CaCO3

Locality: Talc mine, Rabenwald, Anger, Weiz, Styria, Austria

Note: The mineral species Galena is not listed in our database for this locality. This
specimen may be misidentified or the mindat list of minerals at this locality may be
incomplete.

Galena : PbS, Quartz (Var: Rock Crystal) :

Locality: Hofer quarry, Stubenberg am See, Weiz, Styria, Austria

Metallic galena xls in a quartz xl;
Picture width: ~16mm;
Field collected /by: 2005/ReMi;
Collection/photo: ReMi/ReMi
Galena : PbS

Locality: Schmalgraf Mine, Moresnet, Kelmis, Plombières-Vieille Montagne (Plombières-

Altenberg) District, Verviers, Liège Province, Belgium
Knitted galena (gestrickter Bleiglanz) in schalenblende.
Field of view 4 cm.

Galena : PbS

Locality: Schmalgraf Mine, Moresnet, Kelmis, Plombières-Vieille Montagne (Plombières-

Altenberg) District, Verviers, Liège Province, Belgium
“gestrickter Bleiglanz”, skeletal crystals of Galena in a matrix of brown Sphalerite
(Schalenblende), field of view 20 mm, photo Christof Schäfer, collection C.&H. Schäfer.
Galena : PbS, Marcasite : FeS2, Dolomite : CaMg(CO3)2

Locality: La Lesse Quarry, Resteigne, Tellin, Luxembourg Province, Belgium

Galena crystal with Marcasite on Dolomite.
Field of view is 0,6 cm.

Galena : PbS, Dolomite : CaMg(CO3)2

Locality: La Lesse Quarry, Resteigne, Tellin, Luxembourg Province, Belgium

A 0,5 cm Galena crystal on Dolomite.
Galena : PbS, Quartz : SiO2

Locality: Haie-Monet, Landenne, Andenne, Namur Province, Belgium

This specimen was recovered during the exploitation of this mine in the late 19the century.
Ex Z. Gabelica collection.
Specimen width, 115 mm.
Collection and photo, Paul De Bondt

Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS

Locality: Seilles, Andenne, Namur Province, Belgium

Sphalerite on Galena on Sphalerite.
Field of view is 0,8 cm.
Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS

Locality: Seilles, Andenne, Namur Province, Belgium

Sphalerite on Galena on Sphalerite.
Field of view is 0,8 cm.

Galena : PbS, Calcite : CaCO3, Sphalerite : ZnS

Locality: Seilles, Andenne, Namur Province, Belgium

set perfectly crystallized of galena octahedron and capped calcite
full view 11cmx8cm
octaedron 3cm
Galena : PbS, Sphalerite : ZnS, Schalenblende

Locality: Seilles, Andenne, Namur Province, Belgium

A 20 x 17 cm large plate of Schalenblende covered with Sphalerite and up to 2cm tall
octahedral Galena crystals.

Galena : PbS, Calcite : CaCO3, Sphalerite : ZnS

Locality: Seilles, Andenne, Namur Province, Belgium

large set of galena, sphalerite and calcite
full view 16cm x 9cm
Galena : PbS, Marcasite : FeS2

Locality: Saint-Paul Mine,

Welkenraedt, Plombières-Vieille
Montagne (Plombières-
Altenberg) District, Verviers,
Liège Province, Belgium
Octohedral galena crystals on
marcasite crystals.
These sit on schalenblende that
can be seen on the right rim of
the piece.
Old Belgian classic.
I picked this up at the 2011
Hannut show.
Specimen height, 132 mm.
Collection and photo, Paul De
Bondt.

Galena : PbS, Marcasite : FeS2

Locality: Martelange, Luxembourg Province, Belgium

Size: H:6.1cm x W:3.2cm x D:4cm
Largest Crystal: 0.5cm
Description
A sulphide vein through slate matrix has an in curved face lined with well defined octahedra
of galena to 5mm across.
To the rear face is a metallic olive green to golden marcasite crystals.
Galena : PbS, Marcasite : FeS2

Locality: Martelange, Luxembourg Province, Belgium

Size: H:6.1cm x W:3.2cm x D:4cm
Largest Crystal: 0.5cm
Description
A sulphide vein through slate matrix has an in curved face lined with well defined octahedra
of galena to 5mm across.
To the rear face is a metallic olive green to golden marcasite crystals.

Galena : PbS, Marcasite : FeS2

Locality: Martelange, Luxembourg Province, Belgium

Size: H:6.1cm x W:3.2cm x D:4cm
Largest Crystal: 0.5cm
Description
A sulphide vein through slate matrix has an in curved face lined with well defined octahedra
of galena to 5mm across. To the rear face is a metallic olive green to golden marcasite
crystals.
Galena : PbS, Marcasite : FeS2

Locality: Martelange, Luxembourg Province, Belgium

Size: H:6.1cm x W:3.2cm x D:4cm
Largest Crystal: 0.5cm
Description
A sulphide vein through slate matrix has an in curved face lined with well defined octahedra
of galena to 5mm across.
To the rear face is a metallic olive green to golden marcasite crystals.

Galena : PbS

Locality: Martelange, Luxembourg Province, Belgium

galena cube with small octahedral faces; field of view 2,2 mm; photo and collection Joachim
Esche