Galena
On July 21, 1967, the mineral galena was
adopted as the official mineral of Missouri.
Galena is the natural mineral form of lead sulfide. It is the most important lead ore mineral. It crystallizes into cubic or octahedral forms. It is often found with the minerals Sphalerite, Calcite and Fluorite. Galena deposits often contain significant amounts of silver sulfide or minute solid formations of silver within the galena crystalline structure.
In the United States, it occurs most notably in the Mississippi Valley 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 Mining District around Joplin in southwestern Missouri and the adjoining areas of Kansas and Oklahoma from the 1850's through 1950. These mines have been closed for over 65 years now. Galena is the official state mineral of Missouri and Wisconsin.
Item # 16GAL06176781
Rare Galena with Truncated Octahedrons from Cherokee County, Kansas
Galena crystals with large gray, metallic crystals of galena. The galena crystals are cubic (from 2 to 14 mm) with epitaxial growth (which means oriented growth of a later crystal generation upon the first) formations of multiple octahedral crystals resembling truncated pyramids, overgrown on the surface. This is a classic specimen from a classic locale.
This specimen weighs 7.3 oz or 0.45 lb (208g) measures 4.1 x 2.7 x 1.4 in (10.4 x 6.9 x 3.7cm).
Item # 1GALSP011565991
Very Rare Galena with Sphalerite from the Mid-Continent Mine in Cherokee County, Kansas
$395.00
Galena with Epitaxial formations and Sphalerite
This 2 sided specimen plate is from the Mid-Continent Mine in Treece, Picher Field, Tri-State District, Cherokee Co., Kansas. Treece is located in Kansas 2 miles north of Picher, Oklahoma and 25 miles West of Joplin, Missouri.
This specimen has one side covered in sphalerite crystals that have a red iridescence within the gray-black crystals. These crystals are called "Ruby Jack Sphalerite." The other side of the plate has large gray, metallic crystals of galena. The galena crystals are cubic (from 2 to 17 mm) with epitaxial growth (which means oriented growth of a later crystal generation upon the first) formations of multiple 2 to 4 mm octahedral crystals resembling truncated pyramids, overgrown on the surface. There are also crystals of tetrahedral sphalerite in the Galena formations.
This is a stunning example of a classic specimen from this historic locality. Overall size of this mineral specimen is 4.4 x 3.29 x 1.57 inches (11.3 x 8.3 x 4 cm) with individual crystals: 2-17 mm. This specimen has been in our mineral collection for several decades. It was procured from a mineral dealer from Joplin, Missouri. This has been the centerpiece of our Tri-State Classics display.
Item #2GALRCM11164334
Large Galena Cube with Pyrite and Sphalerite from Joplin, Missouri
Galena with Pyrite and Sphalerite
This specimen is from the Tri-State District, Reynolds Co., Missouri. This is a large Galena Cube display sprinkled with Pyrite crystals and a few large Sphalerite pieces as part of the base matrix. The specimen is set in mineral tack on a 2 x 2 x 0.2 inch acrylic plate. This specimen displays very well and is a beautiful addition to any Galena or Tri-state classics collection. Specimens like this have become rare as the mines have been closed for almost 65 years now. This is a nice example of a classic specimen from this historic locality.
Specimen weighs 16.1 oz or 1 lb (459g) and measures 2.1 x 1.9 x 1.5 inches (5.4 x 4.9 x 3.8 cm)
This specimen has been our favorite in our Tri-State Classics mineral collection for several decades. It was procured from a mineral dealer from Joplin, Missouri.