GALENA
Specimen gal-38
$ 90.00Dims: 2.64x2.32x1.38" (6.7x5.9x3.5cm)
Wt: 5.71oz. (161.5g)
Huanzala Mine, Huallanca, Dos de Mayo, Huanuco, Peru
I really like this specimen, although several of its characteristics confuse me. The documentation from the miner says "Galena and Pyrite after Pyrrhotite", but I don't see the pyrrhotite crystal form. What I do see is blades (yes, flat thin blades like barite often forms) of tiny, pure pyrite crystals (these have a good, brassy color and decent sparkle). Intergrown with the pyrite are dozens of larger crystals of galena, although the shape of the crystals is neither cubic nor octahedral, rather they have a complex shape, probably a combination of cubes and octahedrons (some of the crystals almost look like metallic garnets). Further, the galena crystals have a high metallic luster, and most of them are irridescent blue (some more than others). Lastly, on top of the pyrite in many places is another mineral, which I have not identified - it looks black, and may be sphalerite.