Fact sheet
Galena (lead sulphide) is the principal ore of the heavy metal lead. This specimen shows intergrown cube-shaped crystals of dull grey galena and comes from East Wheal Rose.
In Cornwall galena occurs in veins with sphalerite (zinc sulphide) and other sulphide minerals. Five mines dominated lead production in Cornwall during the mid to late 19th century, but the most productive was East Wheal Rose near Newlyn East.
Cornish galena frequently contained a certain amount of silver. Typically the lead ores from East Wheal Rose yielded 67% lead metal and around 0.05% silver. The very high value of silver compared with that of lead, meant that its sale made a disproportionately large contribution to the overall profitability of the mine.
Chemical Formula: PbS