Galena in the eye cosmetic kohl. In Ancient Egypt, this was applied around the eyes to reduce the glare of the desert sun and to repel flies, which were a potential source of disease. galena is the primary ore of lead, which is mainly used in making lead–acid batteries; however, significant amounts are also used to make lead sheeting and lead shot. Galena is often mined for its silver content, such as at the Galena Mine in northern Idaho. It is also used in pencils in the older times. Also known as "potter's ore", galena is used in a green glaze
Nickel in nickel galena. Nickel is commonly found in iron meteorites as the alloys kamacite and taenite. The bulk of the nickel is mined from two types of ore deposits. The first is laterite, where the principal ore mineral mixtures are nickeliferous limonite, (Fe,Ni)O(OH), and garnierite (a mixture of various hydrous nickel and nickel-rich silicates). The second is magmatic sulfide deposits, where the principal ore mineral is pentlandite: . Australia and New Caledonia have the biggest estimate reserves (45% all together). Identified land-based resources throughout the world averaging 1% nickel or greater comprise at least 130 million tons of nickel (about