GALENA
Specimen gal-33
$ 190.00Dims: 3.5 x 2.7 x 1.1" (9.0 x 7.0 x 2.9 cm)
Wt: 5.7 oz. (161 g) w/ base
Madan Mining District, Rhodope Mountains, Plovdiv District, Bulgaria
This gorgeous cabinet specimen consists of a crystalline quartz crust on which rests a single parallel formation of intergrown Galena cubes - I suppose that this formation could be referred to as a single entity, however. It is in excellent condition, showing light damage on one side, and has an interesting and complex form that suggests formation under rather odd, complicated growing conditions - its edges are sharp, however, and its faces are exceptionally smooth, showing the standard dark silvery-gray color of the specie and an unusually bright metallic luster. It is accompanied by 3 chalcopyrite crystals, one of which is intergrown with the Galena and badly broken, and another of which is noticeably cracked. The two intact crystals have the standard deep golden-yellow color and metallic luster, and show excellent tetragonal disphenoidal form. A few small, heavily-intergrown sphalerites are also present on the quartz base, which is basically a druse of hundreds of small, well-formed crystals that are in good condition. The piece is hot-glued onto a square acrylic base.