Every month we will feature images of a particular mineral that you can copy if you like them, and we will give a list of the physical properties, popular collecting sites, general information etc. We will also archive these so that you can access them from time to time and use them as a reference list. Galena Galena is the most common ore mineral for lead. Being lead sulfide it is quite a heavy mineral. It is fairly common and large sized well formed crystals can be obtained for very reasonable prices.
Silver is often a common by product from smelting galena.
Galena was also used as the crystal in the old crystal radio sets. The name comes from the Latin galena which was applies to lead ore or the dross from melted lead. Also occurs in epithermal and mesothermal veins as well as replacement deposits.