Silver-bearing galena on quartz - Madan, Bulgaria | Ref. 309

Silver galena on quartz from Madan mine Bulgaria year 90 price 450€.

Dimensions : length 92mm x width 57mm x height 40mm.

Weight : 235g.

Silver galena has the chemical formula PbS with a certain silver (Ag) content. It is composed mainly of lead, sulphur and silver.

Hardness on the Mohs scale: The hardness of galena is between 2.5 and 2.75 on the Mohs scale.

Density: Galena has a very high density, generally between 7.4 and 7.6 g/cm³. 

Colour and possible variations: Galena is typically lead-grey with a bright metallic sheen. The presence of silver can give slightly lighter shades.

 If cleaned with lukewarm water, dry immediately with a soft cloth to avoid oxidation.

Historical anecdotes : 

Galena has been used since ancient times as the main source of lead. The Romans already mined it to extract lead and silver. Silver-bearing galena is particularly sought-after for its silver content, historically used for minting coins and making jewellery.

You can also explore our full selection of galena specimens in the dedicated category.