- Stone type
- Natural galena with quartz
- Weight
- 1200g
- Size
- 105x106x89mm
- Color
- Silver-grey on cream
- Cut
- Rough
- Clarity
- Opaque
- Treatment
- Untreated
- Origin
- Bulgaria
- Hardness
- 2.5-7
Natural Galena and Quartz Cluster 1200g
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A pale cream matrix carries a dense scatter of galena crystals across its whole upper face, dozens of them, each a sharp cubo-octahedron in bright lead-grey with clean mirror-flat faces. Between and among them grow fine white quartz needles in small radiating sprays, which soften the hard metallic look of the galena and lift the contrast with the pale ground. The crystals sit well proud of the matrix, so the surface has real depth rather than lying flat.
Galena crystallizing as separate sharp crystals on a light matrix, rather than as solid massive ore, is what collectors look for in Bulgarian material, and the Rhodope lead-zinc mines are the source. Untreated. Galena is soft at 2.5 on the Mohs scale and the quartz needles are fine, so the piece is best left where it stands; at 1.2kg and 105mm across it holds a shelf on its own.
Natural galena and quartz cluster, Bulgaria, single piece.
We ship worldwide from Sofia, Bulgaria. Every order is packed in a protective box with bubble wrap. Orders within Bulgaria are dispatched within 1-2 business days and international orders within 2-3 business days. Free shipping is applied automatically at checkout, and the threshold applies to the order value after any discounts.
Delivery within Bulgaria
- Delivered by Speedy, Econt or Box Now, to a courier office, a locker or your address.
- Fixed prices: Box Now locker €1.60 (free on orders from €25), Speedy office €3.20, Econt office or locker €4.00, Speedy to your address €4.50.
- Free shipping on orders over €50, with any courier and at any weight.
- Cash on delivery is available.
- Delivery normally takes 1-2 business days after dispatch.
- Handle with careThis specimen contains galena, a lead sulfide. Handling it is fine, but wash your hands afterwards, never lick or chew it, keep it away from children and pets, and never grind or sand it.
- Hardness
- 2.5-7
- Cleavage
- Varies
- Durability
- Fair
- Soapy water
- Rinse only
- Ultrasonic
- Avoid
- Steam
- Avoid
About this specimen
This specimen combines several minerals that grew together, each with its own hardness and weak spots, so treat it as gently as its softest part. Here soft minerals such as galena, calcite or sphalerite (hardness 2.5 to 4) sit right next to hard quartz (7).
Cleaning
Rinse it briefly in lukewarm water, loosen dirt with a soft brush and let it air-dry. Do not scrub the crystals. Skip ultrasonic and steam cleaners: they can loosen crystals and open cracks between the different minerals.
Wear and storage
Store it padded and apart from other specimens, so its edges and faces do not chip or scratch. Lift it by its base or matrix, not by the crystals. It is soft enough to be scratched by a fingernail, so handle it as little as possible.
Scale
True to scale: 105 × 106 × 89 mm
Shown next to a €1 coin (23.25 mm) in the exact ratio, so you can picture the real size. The outline is approximate.
