Description
The mineral galena, also known as galena, is a lead sulfide, more precisely, lead(II) sulfide, with the chemical formula PbS. Galena crystals are generally cubic, but sometimes octahedral. The mineral often occurs with sphalerite (zinc blende) and fluorite (fluorspar). Deposits of galena are found in Germany, France, Romania, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Scotland, England, Australia, and Mexico. In the United States, the mineral occurs in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Montana, and Wisconsin. Galena is primarily found in hydrothermal veins and around pegmatites, as well as in veins within limestone and dolomite, along with sphalerite. Galena was already known to the Babylonians, and it was a coveted material among the Romans, as its use in aqueducts demonstrates. The name galena for lead polish is of Roman origin. In ancient Egypt, the mineral was used in beads. Galena is an important lead ore. It is also used as a silver ore in the silver industry due to inclusions of argentite, of which lead is a byproduct. Because of its special electrical properties, it was used in the early days of radio to make a crystal receiver. Because of its dark gray color, galena was used as a pigment. Ground galena was used as eyeshadow in many Arab countries.
