galena

galena (gəlē`nə) or lead glance, lustrous, blue-gray mineral crystallizing usually in cubes, sometimes in octahedrons. It is the most important ore and the principal source of lead. It consists of lead sulfide, PbS, but frequently contains silver (it is mined for this metal in some localities) and other accessory metals. It is widely distributed throughout the world, occurring in veins and in bedded deposits, in Missouri, Idaho, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Utah in the United States (leading producer of lead) and in Australia, Canada, England, France, and Mexico. Galena crystals were once much used in radio "crystal" sets.

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galena

 or lead glance

Gray lead sulfide (PbS), the chief ore mineral of lead. One of the most widely distributed sulfide minerals, it occurs in many types of deposits and in many localities. In the U.S., galena is mined principally in the Mississippi River Valley. Galena often contains silver and so is often mined for that metal as well as for lead. Other commercially important minerals that frequently occur in close association with galena are antimony, copper, and zinc.