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.
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
- Etymology
- From the Latin "galena", used since Antiquity for lead minerals.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Acantita (Paramórfica tras Argentita) — Marruecos
- Calcita — Kosovo
- Calcopirita (Irisada) — Francia
- Cinabrio — Eslovenia
- Cinabrio — España
- Cinabrio — España
- Cinabrio — España
- Cinabrio — España