Galena

Rather surprisingly, well crystallised Galena was fairly rare at Tsumeb, despite it being one of the world-capitals for the best-of-species in the case of many much rarer minerals.  This interesting small cabinet specimen contains numerous interjoined Galena crystals, typically of about 1 cm across and forming flattened triangular and hexagonal prisms with bevelled edges.  The entire specimen is dusted with micro-sucrosic colourless Calcite crystals, each probably only 0.1 mm wide.  This shape of Galena crystal is formed from flattened, triangular, spinel twins, often displaying ragged linear, parallel ridges over the crystal faces (typical of Tsumeb Galena).  A fine and uncommon example from Tsumeb mine in the Oshikoto Region of Namibia.