RocksdayGalena vs Jamesonite
The quickest way to tell Galena from Jamesonite: Galena leaves a lead gray streak; Jamesonite leaves gray.
Lead sulfide and the world's main lead ore. Bright silvery cubes that feel astonishingly heavy for their size.
Photo: Ivar Leidus, CC BY-SA 4.0
A lead-iron-antimony sulfide that forms soft, hair-like metallic fibers — one of the minerals called feather ore.
Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick tests
- Streak (rub on unglazed porcelain): Galena leaves a lead gray streak; Jamesonite leaves gray.
- Heft: Galena feels noticeably heavier for its size (specific gravity 7.4–7.6 vs 5.5–5.8).
Key differences
- Galena is cubic and breaks into little cubes.
Side by side
| Property | Galena | Jamesonite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 2.5–2.75 | 2–3 |
| Luster | Metallic | Metallic |
| Streak | Lead gray | Gray |
| Colors | Silver, Gray | Gray, Black |
| Crystal system | Cubic | Monoclinic |
| Specific gravity | 7.4–7.6 | 5.5–5.8 |
| Formula | PbS | Pb₄FeSb₆S₁₄ |
| Found in | Viburnum Trend, Missouri; Tri-State district, USA | Cornwall, England; Baia Mare, Romania |
Properties that are the same for both are grayed out.
How to identify galena
- Very heavy — noticeably heavier than any similar-sized rock.
- Bright silver-gray metallic, dulling over time.
- Breaks into perfect little cubes.
- Soft enough to scratch with a fingernail edge or coin.
Crystal system: Cubic
Full Galena guide →How to identify jamesonite
- Felted gray hairs or flexible needles.
- Metallic, and a fingernail can scratch it.
- Heavy. Dark gray streak.
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Full Jamesonite guide →More comparisons
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between galena and jamesonite?
Galena is a mineral (PbS) with a Mohs hardness of 2.5–2.75 and a metallic luster, usually silvery or gray. Jamesonite is a mineral (Pb₄FeSb₆S₁₄) with a Mohs hardness of 2–3 and a metallic luster, usually gray or black.
How can you tell galena from jamesonite?
Galena leaves a lead gray streak; Jamesonite leaves gray. Galena feels noticeably heavier for its size (specific gravity 7.4–7.6 vs 5.5–5.8). Galena is cubic and breaks into little cubes.
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
Play today's Rocksday