RocksdayGalena vs Stibnite
How to tell them apart
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
Antimony sulfide forming dramatic sword-like, striated metallic crystals.
Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick tests
- Heft: Galena feels noticeably heavier for its size (specific gravity 7.4–7.6 vs 4.6).
Key differences
- Galena forms cubes and is heavier.
Side by side
| Property | Galena | Stibnite |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Mineral | Mineral |
| Mohs hardness | 2.5–2.75 | 2 |
| Luster | Metallic | Metallic |
| Streak | Lead gray | Lead gray |
| Colors | Silver, Gray | Gray, Silver |
| Crystal system | Cubic | Orthorhombic |
| Specific gravity | 7.4–7.6 | 4.6 |
| Formula | PbS | Sb₂S₃ |
| Found in | Viburnum Trend, Missouri; Tri-State district, USA | Xikuangshan, Hunan, China; Ichinokawa mine, Japan |
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 stibnite
- Long, bladed, lead-gray crystals with lengthwise striations.
- Crystals may bend or twist.
- Very soft — a fingernail almost scratches it.
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Full Stibnite guide →More comparisons
Could you tell them apart from a blurry close-up?
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