7.1" Galena, Chalcopyrite, Barite and Quartz - Morocco

Galena, Chalcopyrite, Barite and Quartz - Morocco #45085

This unique specimen contains hundreds of metallic octahedral and cube-octahedral combination galena crystals, standing out from a sulphide rich, quartz druse coated matrix. This matrix also reveals large amounts of chalcopyrite, indicated by the lustrous red/gold color along the edge, as well as scattered around the specimen. Standing over all, is a beautiful football shaped bladed barite cluster. There are clusters of gemmy bladed chlorite in various locations around the specimen, though the cluster in the middle is the real eye opener. The green oxidation around the bottom of the specimen is likely a copper oxidation from the sulphide rich matrix.

There has been very minor stabilization to a portion of the matrix.

Galena is a lead-based mineral and the primary ore of lead, and has been used for its lead content for thousands of years. Galena typically displays a gray metallic luster and forms cubes or octahedral crystals. The chemical composition of galena is PbS.

While galena will not pose a health hazard by sitting on the shelf or even from casual handling, we suggest washing hands following handling due to the mineral's lead content.

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