Galena Galena Galena, also called lead glance, is the natural mineral form of lead(II) sulfide. It is the most important ore of lead and an important source of silver. Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulfide minerals. It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system often showing octahedral forms. It is often associated with the minerals sphalerite, calcite and fluorite. Galena is the main ore of lead, used since ancient times. Because of its somewhat low melting point, it was easy to liberate by smelting. It typically forms in low-temperature sedimentary deposits. In some deposits galena contains about
Ore genesis classified hydrothermal deposits as "hypothermal", "mesothermal", "epithermal", and "telethermal". Epithermal deposits are hydrothermal ore deposits formed at low temperatures (50-200 °C) near the Earth´s surface (<1500 m), that fill veins, breccias, and stockworks. The age of formation of epithermal deposits in México is currently being investigated. "As they require the conjunction of specific environmental conditions to form, particular mineral deposit types tend to occupy specific geodynamic niches," therefore, this page has been organised by metal commodity. It is also possible to organise theories the other way, namely according to geological criteria of formation. Often ores of the same metal can