TERRIUM — A mineralogy cabinet

Galena

Galena is a mineral with formula PbS, in the Sulfuros group. This specimen comes from Stan Terg Mine (Stari Trg), Trepča Complex, Mitrovica, Mitrovica District, Kosovo and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.

Galena from Stan Terg Mine (Stari Trg), Trepča Complex, Mitrovica, Mitrovica District, Kosovo — Terrium

Description

The lead ear. Silver-bearing galena crowned by a large calcite crest. Exquisite architecture. Very good reaction under UV light, which tints the calcite rim pink. The galena crystals, dodecahedral and pseudo-botryoidal, show very fine growth rings, best seen with a hand lens.

History of this specimen

It was mislabelled as "galena with sphalerite" at the Vigo Minerals Fair 2025. After I pointed it out, the vendor Sílvio J. Rodrigues apologised and applied a small discount. The second piece I bought, advertised as antlerite, is very likely a clinoatacamite and carries number 250 in my collection. Result: "2 out of 2" errors by the same dealer.

About Galena

Typical Trepča association: an early sulphide phase (galena) in hydrothermal cavities of the Pb–Zn–Ag system, followed by a late carbonate phase (calcite) that lines the margins, forming the crests.

About the locality

Trepča is a classic European district of hydrothermal veins (Pb–Zn–Ag), noted for very lustrous galena associated with calcite, sphalerite and pyrite; it produces specimens with excellent aesthetics of druses and carbonate crests.

Technical data

Catalogue No.
0189
Composition
PbS
Name
Galena
Group
Sulfuros
Category
Cresta Montis
Associations
Calcita
Mine
Stan Terg Mine (Stari Trg)
District / Municipality
Trepča Complex
Province
Mitrovica
Region
Mitrovica District
Country
Kosovo
Size (cm)
10 x 6 x 4.5
Acquired
2025
Etymology
From the Latin "galena", used since Antiquity for lead minerals.
Quality
Muy buena
Value trend
Estable

Related specimens

← Back to Terrium catalogue