GALENA
Specimen gal-24
$ 50.00Dims: 2.7 x 2.3 x 1.4" (6.9 x 5.8 x 3.6 cm)
Wt: 9.47 oz. (268.6 g)
Naica, Chihuahua, Mexico
This specimen appears to consist mostly of Galena, though there is a substantial amount of sphalerite and some pyrite present. The Galena takes on a rather odd, highly warped form, as if many crystals "melted" together, but still retained a small amount of visible crystal form. Many of its edges are rounded and many faces are curved, but one can see that this curvature is due to "gradation" that consists of many tiny faces and edges. There is a small amount of fresh damage present in the form of straight cleavage faces and edges, but this is difficult to see. The Galena has the classic dark gray color and metallic luster of its kind, though its luster is brighter than many that I have seen. The sphalerite is similar in form, though somewhat better defined. One such sphalerite "crystal" seems to have thrust through the galena, which rings it (see the second image). The pyrite is scattered about the piece and takes on the form of tiny crystals. There is also a small amount of crystalline calcite and even a few small, colorless fluorites present. A wooden prop has been hot-glued to one side of the piece so that it will sit upright.