Pronunciation: ga•LAY•na (accent on capitalized syllable)
Color: gray to silver-gray
Streak: lead gray
Luster: metallic
Diaphaneity: opaque
Hardness: 2.5
Specific gravity: 7.4-7.6
Cleavage/fracture: 3 directions
Other distinguishing properties: Galena grows in cubic crystals and cleaves into cube- or box-shaped fragments with perpendicular sides. Galena is a lead sulfide, so it feels heavy like a lead fishing weight. Its gray color, metallic luster, a nd softness are also diagnostic.
Klein, C., and Hurlbut, C.S., Jr., 1999, Manual of Mineralogy (after James D. Dana) [21st edition, revised]: New York, John Wiley & Sons, 682 p.
Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, The Photo Atlas of Minerals: nhm.org/pam/
Return to the Minerals page.
