Galena – Machen Quarry

Specimens of galena from Machen Quarry, Newport, Wales. Galena is a lead sulphide mineral which is a popular mineral among many, from amateurs to professionals and for varying reasons. Galena is the primary ore of lead, and as such, has had a large impact historically on human history. In general, galena is a bright blue mineral and has a metallic (shiny) lustre and is often reflective, but can dull over time with exposure. It normally forms with a cubic crystal system and as such, when large chunks are broken, it will often break into cubes, or certain sides will be blocky. Due to it’s low melting point, galena was easy to smelt and thus played in important role an human industry, being used in a range of item such as lead pipes, building materials, electronics and of course in pencils. However as advancement in technology took off, galena is used less and less in modern times, being scrapped from use in pencils due to numerous health risks the mineral posed. These samples are exceedingly pure with a good metallic lustre. Perfect specimens for any British mineral collection, they are supplied in a white card tray with an information label.