One of the best known minerals in the world for being the one with the highest lead content is the galenaIt has been recognized for many centuries because it is found in a well-crystallized state and can be found in interesting and diverse forms. It is a type of primary mineral that gave rise to other minerals such as cerussite, anglesite, and lead. These secondary minerals were formed from galena.
In this article we are going to show you all the characteristics, origin and uses of the mineral galena.
Key features
Within the structure of galena, we have some impurities, such as silver and bismuth, that can alter the properties of the entire mineral. If we find a type of galena that contains a high concentration of bismuth, it may have octahedral cleavage. When we find silver, we can also see various slightly bent fragments.
It belongs to the group of sulfides and it has a fairly low hardness on the Mosh scale. As for its color, it has quite striking hues that make it extremely attractive to the human eye. It ranges in shades from metallic gray to intense and bright blue. Because it comes in this range of colors, it's fairly quick to identify. For those not experienced in mineral recognition, it's more likely to be confused with another mineral, such as blemish. Blemish is a mineral high in iron and has rounded crystals. The main difference with galena is that it's darker, almost black. Its density is also lower, and it's much harder.
There are other geological minerals that can also resemble galena, but they have a reddish-brown stripe and are not cubic. Galena has a crystal form that generally gives it a cubic appearance. We can also find it forming an 8-sided polyhedron, even adhering to one another. If it undergoes any type of alteration and some sulfate compounds are added, we can see that this mineral transforms into what we know as anglesite, and if we incorporate carbonates, it becomes cerussite.
It has a delamination, taking into account its flat surface and is classified as easy to scratch. This depends on the total number of surfaces the device has. Galena can occur in granular, leaky, and exfoliating forms. Its chemical formula is PbS.
Origin of galena
The term galena is thought to come from the word "galene," which means lead. This term was used to refer to the quantities of lead found in this mineral. Other research suggests that the Egyptians also used galena for cosmetic purposes. It was applied to the eyes to help protect them from sunlight and dust. It was also applied to the body to repel insects.
The origin of the exploitation of galena as a resource began in Cartagena hundreds of years ago. Galena mines began to be exploited, and over the years, excavations have evolved that have ultimately served to utilize this mineral in multiple areas.
We can see galena deposits that, according to geological assessments, are usually found associated with slightly acidic or granitic rocks and pegmatite rocks. They can also be found next to carbonate rock mines. These galena deposits are found in diverse locations around the world, and special attention has been paid to their extraction. Some of the places around the world where the largest quantities of galena are extracted are: Australia, Peru, Ireland, Czechoslovakia, England and the United States. To learn more about minerals in general, you can visit our section on mineralogy.
In Spain, we find galena deposits in Carolina and Linares. These deposits produce large quantities of galena. On the Iberian Peninsula, we can also find galena in Ciudad Real, Murcia, and Lérida.
Uses and applications of galena
Now we are going to know the reason for the importance of the extraction of this mineral. The Egyptians used it for cosmetics in ancient times, as we have mentioned before. In more modern uses, it can be seen that galena mineral crystals were used to assemble the radios for the first time. This is so since they acted as a rectification element for signals that were captured by the antennas. Later years the diode signal rectification element was modified.
Of the galenas extracted in Spain that are of the silver type, Lead is extracted from the tubes, sheets and pellets used to make protective screens. and other radioactive substances. If you'd like to learn more about mineral types, we recommend our page on types of quartz.
If we also focus on the spiritual plane, for many people, galena brings harmony and balance to our lives. It can provide support and keep individuals focused on reality and their goals. It is said to open the mind and expand ideas, while maintaining the goal you want to pursue. Let's not forget that staying focused on something you want to achieve for a long time is more difficult than it seems. Therefore, Many people turn to galena necklaces or bracelets as an amulet.
It is also said that if a person carries the galena and tends to have negative habits, these habits will gradually fade into the background, allowing the person the opportunity to change for the better and create productive habits that will help them prosper.
A curious thing is that some people carry a sample of this mineral in their pants or shirt pockets, like an amulet. It's also often placed in homes and workplaces to always keep in mind the goals we want to achieve.
As you can see, galena is a mineral that is quite in demand and is known throughout the world with various practical uses. I hope that with this information you can learn more about galena.