GALENA, sulphide of lead, lead glance, lead ore. Plomb sulfure, FR. ; Bleiglanz, GER. This is the richest ore of lead, and from which that metal is chiefly obtained. As met with in commerce, it is in heavy, shining, black or bluish lead - coloured cubical masses, having a great resemblance to the sulphuret of antimony. At the Madras Exhibition of 1857, a rich ore of argentiferous galena was exhibited from Martaban by Dr. Brandis, granular, or in minute crystals, with silver passing through it in thready veins. This ore, assayed by Dr. Scott, contained about 80 per cent. of silver lead. But the quantity of silver was found to vary in the portion examined from 70 to 300 ounces in the ton of ore. By Pat tenson's mode for separating the silver crystalliza tion, by careful, slow cooling, the process proves remunerative where only 7 ounces of silver can be obtained from a ton of metal. This is probably the ore referred to by the Rev. Francis Mason, A.M., in his publication on the natural productions of Burma, where he says the limestone of the Provinces probably contains large quantities of lead. In the valley of the Salwin there is a rich vein of argentiferous galena, which is reported to appear on the surface. Professor Mitchell, in the certificate that he furnished to Dr. Morton of the analysis, says it contains lead, sulphur, silver, gold (traces), lime, magnesia, iron, silica, and carbonic acid.
Galena containing silver occurs abtmdantly in the eastern part of the Shan-tung province of China, also in many of the Shan states to the east of the Irawadi river ; -but the most prolific minea are those situated at Bawyine, Kyouktch, and Toung-byne, near Thee-baw, to the N.E. of Mandalay. One mine, the Kampanee, yields 40 tikals of silver and 25 viss of lead from one basket of the ore, while the poorest mine gives 4 tikals of silver and 30 viss of lead. The lead mines at Baudween, Baudweengyee, and Sagaing are also argentiferous.
In the Eastern Ghats of the Peninsula of India, between lat. 14° and 17° N., and long. 78° and 80° E., between Cuddapah and Nellore, near Bussahir, Jungamrazpillay, and Jungamanipentah, it runs in lodes, 1 to 14 inch thick, in a limestone associated with sandstone and clay, and arena ceous schists and slates. The ore contains 85
per cent. of lead. The Dhone taluk, Kurnool, is another locality from which galena was sent, in very large blocks ; one piece measured about 18 inches in dia.meter, and weighed upwards of 3 cwt. This ore, carefully tested by Dr. Scott in 1859, was then found to contain from 53 to 70 per cent. of lead, but no silver ; it was also tried at the Mint, and yielded a large percentage of lead. It has been used for some years at the Madras School of Arts for glazing pottery, and answers well for that purpose, though it is found to succeed better when reduced to the form of minium, and then ground with felspar and an alkali. It was brought to notice by Captain J. G. Russell. A re - examination of the first specimen of the Kurnool ore proved it to contain upwards of 1 per cent. of silver, or 374 ounces in the ton, the quantity of lead and silver together being only 45 per cent., which was occasioned by there being a considerable quantity of gangue disseminated through the portion examined. Another specimen, given by Col. Cotton, aud also said to be from Kurnool, was found to contain 175 oz. 3 dwts. in the ton. A specimen of this unwashed ore was again analysed by Dr. Scott in 1859, and when fused with carbonate of soda and nitrate of potash, produced about 60 per cent. of metallic lead. The resulting lead, on being coupelled, furnished a bead of silver weigh ing 1.18 grs., which is equivalent to 96.64 oz. in the ton of ore, or 165.76 oz. in the ton of metal. Among the metallic ores bolding the promise of being marketable, is the rich ore of galena or sulphuret of lead from Jungamrazpillay, in the vicinity of Cuddapah. This ore is rich in silver, and is worked by the natives on this account ; but all the lead is wasted, and the silver is obtained by a tedious,' clumsy, and expensive process.
Galena is found at Rupi of Kulu in the Kangra district, associated with quartz ; also in the Khagula in the Shahpur district, in the Kashmir country, and in Kandahar. — Captain Strover, 1873 ; Newbold ; Powell, Handbook ; Econ. Prod. Panjab, p. 54 ; E. J. R. of 1857.