Galena

Specimen Summary

Galena is the main ore mineral for lead. Because of its relatively low melting temperature it can be easily smelted and has been used as a source of lead since ancient times. Galena has a cubic crystal system and can often be found as cubes or octahedra. Its shiny grey metallic lustre and heavy, dense nature make it easy to recognize. Galena often contains small amounts of silver, which add to its economic value.

Specimen Data

 

The information listed below relates to the current holding location or collection that the sample is from, and whether the item is viewable at that location or is part of a private collection. Coordinates are given as guides, and we remind you that collecting specimens from these locations is not allowed. Caution is advised visiting such sites and Below BC assumes no responsibility for any injuries or trespassing charges that may occur as a result of the viewer entering these sites.

Collection Details

Original Collection:

Ministry of Energy, Mines & Petroleum Resources of Cranbrook (MEM)

Sub Collection:

-

Collection ID:

MEM_05

Virtual Museum ID:

19-MEM05

Accessibility:

Date Added to VM:

2019-06-14

Location Information

Sample Origin:

Nelson, BC

Specific Site:

Kootenay King

UTM Easting:

601819

UTM Northing:

5509322

Datum:

11 (NAD 83)

Coordinate Accuracy:

Approximate

Specimen Details

VM Category:

Mineral

Primary Features:

Galena

Primary Mineral Formula:

PbS

Primary Category:

sulphide

Secondary Features:

Advanced Geological Information

 

The following section provides geological data relating to the specimen or the site it was collected from, when available. Information has been obtained from various sources including private and government datasets but may not be up to date. Any geological time periods or ages listed often relate to the primary geology of the area, and may not be the actual date of an event such as mineral formation.

Geological Formation:

Lower Aldridge Formation

Geological Period:

Proterozoic

Stratigraphic Age:

1000 to 1600 Million Years Ago

Geological Belt:

Foreland

Geological Terrane:

Ancestral North America

Minfile ID:

082GNW009

Minfile Link:

http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=082GNW009

Site Details:

The Kootenay King workings are located approximately 30 kilometres northeast of Kimberley on the east side of Lakit Mountain.

Regionally, the area is underlain by Proterozoic clastic Purcell metasediments intruded by syngenetic gabbro and diorite sills and dykes of the Moyie intrusions and later intrusions of felsic and lamprophyre suites.

The Kootenay King deposit is a stratiform lead-zinc deposit. Pyrite, galena and sphalerite occur as fine laminations at the top of a coarse sandstone unit (Kootenay King quartzite) within a buff weathering section of the Helikian Lower Aldridge Formation (Purcell Supergroup). The deposit lies within the eastern overturned flank of a major anticline. The Kootenay King quartzite has a hanging wall of black argillites and a footwall of brown siltstones. The anticlinal structure plunges gently to the north.

In 2012, Klondike Gold Corp. completed prospecting at the Kootenay King workings and the surrounding area. Highlights include rock sample SKKG-97, which assayed greater than 1 per cent lead and 66.8 grams per tonne silver, and rock sample MKKG-79, which assayed 0.57 per cent lead, 0.11 per cent zinc and 27.5 grams per tonne silver (Assessment Report 33471).

Additional Images