Galena, Tennantite, Dolomite

Unknown Owner

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Despite being one of the most famous lead mines in the world, actual Galena specimens are oddly rare in Tsumeb. The lead seems to have been mostly dissolved and turned into other species. This is a significant galena specimen for the locality, an essential and rare contribution to any Tsumeb suite. Well-formed crystals of lustrous, iridescent tennantite, to 3 cm across, are accents. The matte-black crystals of galena, to 2.2 cm across are sharp and clean, not altered or partially melted as are so many others from here. The piece has an old look to it, as it is , although it could be cleaned (with Simple Green) to make the galena nice and bright and shiny. This is a really aesthetic specimen because of another association - nestled in the crevices are saddle-shaped rhombs of lustrous, light gray dolomite, to 1 cm in length. These give a great contrast and some color to the metallic galenas. Overall, an unusual and important Tsumeb specimen, of a species not often thought of as glamorous from this important location.