Difference between revisions of "Galena"

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(Imported from https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/w/index.php?title=Galena&oldid=326696729)
 
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{{Infobox mineral
 
{{Infobox mineral
 
| name        = Galena
 
| name        = Galena
| category    = [[Sulfide mineral]]
+
| category    = [[Sulfide mineral]]s
 
| boxwidth    =
 
| boxwidth    =
 
| boxbgcolor  =
 
| boxbgcolor  =
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| imagesize  = 150
 
| imagesize  = 150
 
| caption    = Galena [[crystal]] from [[Galena, Kansas]]
 
| caption    = Galena [[crystal]] from [[Galena, Kansas]]
| formula    = [[lead]] [[sulfide]] (PbS)
+
| formula    = PbS
| strunz      = II/C.15-40
+
| strunz      = 02.CD.10
 
| dana        = 2.8.1.1
 
| dana        = 2.8.1.1
| symmerty   = <math>\ 4/m \ \bar 3 \ 2/m</math>
+
| symmetry   = 2/m <u style="text-decoration:overline">3</u> 2/m
| molweight  =
+
| molweight  = 239.3
| color      = Lead gray, silvery
+
| color      = lead gray, silvery
| habit      = Cubes and octahedra, tabular and sometimes skeletal crystals
+
| habit      = cubes and octahedra, tabular and sometimes skeletal crystals
| system      = [[Cubic (crystal system)|Isometric]] [[Pearson symbol|cF8]], SpaceGroup Fm-3m, No. 225
+
| system      = [[Cubic crystal system|cubic]]
| twinning    = Contact and penetration
+
| twinning    = contact and penetration
| cleavage    = Cubic
+
| cleavage    = cubic
| fracture    = Subconchoidal
+
| fracture    = subconchoidal
| mohs        = 2.5 - 2.75
+
| mohs        = 2½–2¾
| luster      = Metallic
+
| luster      = metallic
 
| refractive  =
 
| refractive  =
 
| opticalprop =
 
| opticalprop =
 
| birefringence =
 
| birefringence =
 
| pleochroism =
 
| pleochroism =
| streak      = Lead gray
+
| streak      = lead gray
| gravity    = 7.2 - 7.6
+
| gravity    = 7.2–7.6
 
| density    =
 
| density    =
 
| melt        =
 
| melt        =
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| diagnostic  =
 
| diagnostic  =
 
| solubility  =
 
| solubility  =
| diaphaneity = Opaque
+
| diaphaneity = opaque
 
| other      =
 
| other      =
| references  = <ref name=Handbook>http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/galena.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy</ref><ref name=Webmineral>http://www.webmineral.com/data/Galena.shtml Webmineral data</ref>
+
| references  = <ref name="Webmineral">{{WebMineral-ref | name = Galena | url = http://www.webmineral.com/data/Galena.shtml | accessdate = 2009-12-04}}.</ref><ref name="MinDat">{{MinDat-ref | name = Galena | id = 1641 | accessdate = 2009-12-04}}.</ref><ref>{{citation | contribution = Galena | url = http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/galena.pdf | title = Handbook of Mineralogy}}.</ref>
 
}}
 
}}
 
'''Galena''' is the natural mineral form of [[lead sulfide]]. It is the most important [[lead]] [[ore]] mineral.  
 
'''Galena''' is the natural mineral form of [[lead sulfide]]. It is the most important [[lead]] [[ore]] mineral.  
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==Lead ore deposits==
 
==Lead ore deposits==
Galena deposits often contain significant amounts of [[silver]] as included silver sulfide mineral phases or as limited solid solution within the galena structure. These argentiferous galenas have long been the most important ore of silver in [[mining]]. In addition zinc, cadmium, antimony, arsenic and bismuth also occur in variable amounts in lead ores. Selenium substitutes for sulfur in the structure constituting a solid solution series. The lead [[Telluride (chemistry)|telluride]] mineral [[altaite]] has the same crystal structure as galena. Within the [[weathering]] or [[oxidation]] zone galena alters to [[anglesite]] (lead sulfate) or [[cerussite]] (lead carbonate). Galena exposed to acid mine drainage can be oxidized to anglesite by naturally occurring bacteria and [[archaea]], in a process similar to [[bioleaching]] <ref>[http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VBT-4D75MX0-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=f0a90eb652838f319a5aba270e7c76ae Hydrometallurgy. ''Kinetics and mechanism of the bacterial and ferric sulphate oxidation of galena'']</ref>
+
Galena deposits often contain significant amounts of [[silver]] as included silver sulfide mineral phases or as limited solid solution within the galena structure. These argentiferous galenas have long been the most important ore of silver in [[mining]]. In addition zinc, cadmium, antimony, arsenic and bismuth also occur in variable amounts in lead ores. Selenium substitutes for sulfur in the structure constituting a solid solution series. The lead [[Telluride (chemistry)|telluride]] mineral [[altaite]] has the same crystal structure as galena. Within the [[weathering]] or [[oxidation]] zone galena alters to [[anglesite]] (lead sulfate) or [[cerussite]] (lead carbonate). Galena exposed to acid mine drainage can be oxidized to anglesite by naturally occurring bacteria and [[archaea]], in a process similar to [[bioleaching]] <ref>{{citation | url = http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VBT-4D75MX0-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=f0a90eb652838f319a5aba270e7c76ae | title = Kinetics and mechanism of the bacterial and ferric sulphate oxidation of galena | journal = Hydrometallurgy}}.</ref>
  
 
Galena deposits are found in [[Wales]], [[Germany]], [[France]], [[Romania]], [[Austria]], [[Belgium]], [[Italy]], [[Spain]], [[Scotland]], [[Ireland]], [[England]], [[Australia]], and [[Mexico]]. Noted deposits include those at [[Freiberg, Saxony]]; [[Cornwall]],The Mendips, Somerset,  [[Derbyshire]], and [[Cumberland]], [[England]]; the [[Sullivan Mine]] of [[British Columbia]]; and [[Broken Hill]], [[Australia]]. Galena also occurs at [[Mount Hermon]] in Northern [[Israel]]. In the [[United States]], it occurs most notably in the [[Carbonate hosted lead zinc ore deposits|Mississippi Valley type deposits]] of the [[Lead Belt]] in southeastern [[Missouri]], and in the [[Driftless Area]] of [[Illinois]], [[Iowa]] and [[Wisconsin]].  The economic importance of galena to the early history of the Driftless Area was so great that one of the towns in the region was named [[Galena, Illinois]].  
 
Galena deposits are found in [[Wales]], [[Germany]], [[France]], [[Romania]], [[Austria]], [[Belgium]], [[Italy]], [[Spain]], [[Scotland]], [[Ireland]], [[England]], [[Australia]], and [[Mexico]]. Noted deposits include those at [[Freiberg, Saxony]]; [[Cornwall]],The Mendips, Somerset,  [[Derbyshire]], and [[Cumberland]], [[England]]; the [[Sullivan Mine]] of [[British Columbia]]; and [[Broken Hill]], [[Australia]]. Galena also occurs at [[Mount Hermon]] in Northern [[Israel]]. In the [[United States]], it occurs most notably in the [[Carbonate hosted lead zinc ore deposits|Mississippi Valley type deposits]] of the [[Lead Belt]] in southeastern [[Missouri]], and in the [[Driftless Area]] of [[Illinois]], [[Iowa]] and [[Wisconsin]].  The economic importance of galena to the early history of the Driftless Area was so great that one of the towns in the region was named [[Galena, Illinois]].  
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Galena also was a major mineral of the zinc-lead mines of the [[tri-state district]] around [[Joplin]] in southwestern Missouri and the adjoining areas of [[Kansas]] and [[Oklahoma]]. Galena is also an important ore mineral in the silver mining regions of [[Colorado]], [[Idaho]], [[Utah]] and [[Montana]]. Of the latter, the [[Coeur d'Alene, Idaho|Coeur d'Alene]] district of northern Idaho was most prominent. Galena is the [[List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, and gemstones|official state mineral]] of the U. S. states of Missouri and Wisconsin.  
 
Galena also was a major mineral of the zinc-lead mines of the [[tri-state district]] around [[Joplin]] in southwestern Missouri and the adjoining areas of [[Kansas]] and [[Oklahoma]]. Galena is also an important ore mineral in the silver mining regions of [[Colorado]], [[Idaho]], [[Utah]] and [[Montana]]. Of the latter, the [[Coeur d'Alene, Idaho|Coeur d'Alene]] district of northern Idaho was most prominent. Galena is the [[List of U.S. state minerals, rocks, and gemstones|official state mineral]] of the U. S. states of Missouri and Wisconsin.  
  
The largest documented single crystal of galena measured 25x25x25 cm<sup>3</sup>.<ref>{{cite journal| url = http://www.minsocam.org/ammin/AM66/AM66_885.pdf| journal = American Mineralogist| volume = 66| page = 885–907| year= 1981| title= The largest crystals| author = P. C. Rickwood}}</ref>
+
The largest documented single crystal of galena measured 25x25x25 cm<sup>3</sup>.<ref>{{citation | first = Peter C. | last = Rickwood | year = 1981 | title = The largest crystals | url = http://www.minsocam.org/ammin/AM66/AM66_885.pdf | journal = American Mineralogist | volume = 66 | pages = 885–907}}.</ref>
  
 
==Galena uses==
 
==Galena uses==
One of the earliest uses of galena was as [[Kohl (cosmetics)|kohl]], which in [[Ancient Egypt]], was applied around the eyes to reduce the glare of the desert sun and to repel flies, which were a potential source of disease.<ref>Metropolitan Museum of Art. ''The Art of Medicine in Ancient Egypt.'' (New York: The Museum, 2005), p. 10, ISBN 1-58839-170-1</ref>
+
One of the earliest uses of galena was as [[Kohl (cosmetics)|kohl]], which in [[Ancient Egypt]], was applied around the eyes to reduce the glare of the desert sun and to repel flies, which were a potential source of disease.<ref>{{citation | publisher = Metropolitan Museum of Art | title = The Art of Medicine in Ancient Egypt | location = New York | year = 2005 | page = 10 | isbn = 1-58839-170-1}}.</ref>
  
Galena is a [[semiconductor]] with a small bandgap of about 0.4 eV which found use in early [[wireless]] communication systems. For example, it was used as the crystal in [[Crystal set|crystal radio sets]], in which it was used as a point-contact [[diode]] to detect the radio signals. The galena crystal was used with a safety pin or similar sharp wire, which was known as a [[Cat's-whisker detector|"cat's whisker"]]. Making such wireless sets was a popular home hobby in Britain during the 1930s. Derbyshire was one of the main areas where Galena was mined.  
+
Galena is a [[semiconductor]] with a small bandgap of about 0.4&nbsp;eV which found use in early [[wireless]] communication systems. For example, it was used as the crystal in [[Crystal set|crystal radio sets]], in which it was used as a point-contact [[diode]] to detect the radio signals. The galena crystal was used with a safety pin or similar sharp wire, which was known as a [[Cat's-whisker detector|"cat's whisker"]]. Making such wireless sets was a popular home hobby in Britain during the 1930s. Derbyshire was one of the main areas where Galena was mined.  
 
Scientists that were linked to this application are [[Karl Ferdinand Braun]] and [[Jagdish Bose|Sir Jagdish Bose]]. In modern wireless communication systems, galena detectors have been replaced by more reliable semiconductor devices, though [[silicon]] point-contact microwave detectors still exist in the market.
 
Scientists that were linked to this application are [[Karl Ferdinand Braun]] and [[Jagdish Bose|Sir Jagdish Bose]]. In modern wireless communication systems, galena detectors have been replaced by more reliable semiconductor devices, though [[silicon]] point-contact microwave detectors still exist in the market.
  
==See also==
+
==References==
*[[List of minerals]]
+
{{reflist}}
  
== Notes ==
+
===Further reading===
<references/>
+
* {{citation | last1 = Klein | first1 = Cornelis | first2 = Cornelius S., Jr. | last2 = Hurlbut | year = 1985 | title = Manual of Mineralogy | publisher = Wiley | edition = 2nd | pages = 274–76 | isbn = 0-471-80580-7}}.
 
 
==References==
 
* Klein, Cornelis and Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr. (1985) ''Manual of Mineralogy'', Wiley, 2nd ed., pp.&nbsp;274&ndash;276, ISBN 0-471-80580-7
 
* [http://www.mindat.org/min-1641.html Mindat with location data]
 
* [http://franklin-sterlinghill.com/dunn/ch21/galena.stm Franklin and Sterling Hill] mineral deposits
 
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==

Revision as of 09:44, 4 December 2009

Galena

Galena crystal from Galena, Kansas
General
Category Sulfide minerals
Chemical formula PbS
Strunz classification 02.CD.10
Dana classification 2.8.1.1
Crystal symmetry 2/m 3 2/m
Identification
Molar mass 239.3
Color lead gray, silvery
Crystal habit cubes and octahedra, tabular and sometimes skeletal crystals
Crystal system cubic
Twinning contact and penetration
Cleavage cubic
Fracture subconchoidal
Mohs scale hardness 2½–2¾
Luster metallic
Streak lead gray
Diaphaneity opaque
Specific gravity 7.2–7.6
Fusibility 2
References [1][2][3]

Galena is the natural mineral form of lead sulfide. It is the most important lead ore mineral.

Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulfide minerals. It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system often showing octahedral forms. It is often associated with the minerals sphalerite, calcite and fluorite.

Lead ore deposits

Galena deposits often contain significant amounts of silver as included silver sulfide mineral phases or as limited solid solution within the galena structure. These argentiferous galenas have long been the most important ore of silver in mining. In addition zinc, cadmium, antimony, arsenic and bismuth also occur in variable amounts in lead ores. Selenium substitutes for sulfur in the structure constituting a solid solution series. The lead telluride mineral altaite has the same crystal structure as galena. Within the weathering or oxidation zone galena alters to anglesite (lead sulfate) or cerussite (lead carbonate). Galena exposed to acid mine drainage can be oxidized to anglesite by naturally occurring bacteria and archaea, in a process similar to bioleaching [4]

Galena deposits are found in Wales, Germany, France, Romania, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Scotland, Ireland, England, Australia, and Mexico. Noted deposits include those at Freiberg, Saxony; Cornwall,The Mendips, Somerset, Derbyshire, and Cumberland, England; the Sullivan Mine of British Columbia; and Broken Hill, Australia. Galena also occurs at Mount Hermon in Northern Israel. In the United States, it occurs most notably in the Mississippi Valley type deposits of the Lead Belt in southeastern Missouri, and in the Driftless Area of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. The economic importance of galena to the early history of the Driftless Area was so great that one of the towns in the region was named Galena, Illinois.

Galena also was a major mineral of the zinc-lead mines of the tri-state district around Joplin in southwestern Missouri and the adjoining areas of Kansas and Oklahoma. Galena is also an important ore mineral in the silver mining regions of Colorado, Idaho, Utah and Montana. Of the latter, the Coeur d'Alene district of northern Idaho was most prominent. Galena is the official state mineral of the U. S. states of Missouri and Wisconsin.

The largest documented single crystal of galena measured 25x25x25 cm3.[5]

Galena uses

One of the earliest uses of galena was as kohl, which in Ancient Egypt, was applied around the eyes to reduce the glare of the desert sun and to repel flies, which were a potential source of disease.[6]

Galena is a semiconductor with a small bandgap of about 0.4 eV which found use in early wireless communication systems. For example, it was used as the crystal in crystal radio sets, in which it was used as a point-contact diode to detect the radio signals. The galena crystal was used with a safety pin or similar sharp wire, which was known as a "cat's whisker". Making such wireless sets was a popular home hobby in Britain during the 1930s. Derbyshire was one of the main areas where Galena was mined. Scientists that were linked to this application are Karl Ferdinand Braun and Sir Jagdish Bose. In modern wireless communication systems, galena detectors have been replaced by more reliable semiconductor devices, though silicon point-contact microwave detectors still exist in the market.

References

Further reading

  • Klein, Cornelis; Hurlbut, Cornelius S., Jr. Manual of Mineralogy, 2nd ed.; Wiley, 1985; pp 274–76. ISBN 0-471-80580-7.

External links

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