Galena

A single large Galena crystal from the mines at Leadhills in Lanarkshire, Scotland.  The crystal is not complete due to part of one side being cleaved and other faces merging with adjacent part-crystals.  The prime cubic face displays well and measures 3.7 cm across at its widest point, the overall crystal being 5.5. cm wide.  As is typical of Galena from Leadhills, the crystal being a cuboctahedron of a semi-lustrous lead grey.  The crystal displays attractive surface growth patterns, those on the upper face looking like billowing stacked clouds.  This specimen is accompanied with a fully intact if somewhat crumpled Francis H. Butler label, stating “late Talling, Natural History Dealer, 180, Brompton Road, London, S.W.”  This label dates to between 1884 and 1887 when his shop was situated close to the, then, new British Museum (Natural History) building, now the NHM, London.