A natural mineral form of lead sulfide that is the principal ore of lead, often with a metallic gray color and cubic crystal structure.
From Latin 'galena,' the Roman name for lead ore. Romans mined this mineral extensively, and the name persisted through medieval times into modern mineralogy and chemistry.
Ancient Romans extracted lead from galena to make their famous aqueducts—but they didn't know lead was poisoning them slowly, contributing to Rome's downfall!
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