Galena Vs. Uraninite

Galena is a very popular mineral composed of lead sulfide.^[1] Uraninite is also a very popular mineral and its chemical composition is uranium dioxide.^[2]

Quick Facts on Differences of Galena and Uraninite

For a quick recap of the differences galena and uraninite:

• While both galena and uraninite is opaque, uraninite can be translucent.
• For chemical formulas, galena is PbS while uraninite is UO2.
• While both galena and uraninite can be dull, in terms of luster, galena can be metallic and uraninite can be greasy or submetallic.
• Galena streaks steel-gray while uraninite streaks brownish-black, grayish-brown or olive-green.
• While both galena and uraninite can be commonly gray, uraninite is often black, brown or green.
• Galena's rarity is less rare than uraninite.

Summary of Galena

Galena is a common mineral that is mainly composed of lead sulfide (PbS). It is a dense, soft, and metallic mineral that is easily recognizable due to its distinctive dark grey to black color and metallic luster. Galena can be identified by its high density, which is about 7.5 times that of water, and it is also easily scratched with a knife or a fingernail.

Summary of Uraninite

Uraninite is a radioactive mineral that is primarily composed of uranium dioxide (UO2). It is one of the most important ores of uranium and is commonly found in granite pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, and sandstones. Uraninite is relatively easy to identify due to its black color and high density. It can also be identified by its characteristic radioactivity and the presence of uranium in its chemical composition.

Table Comparison of Galena vs Uraninite