Sphalerite and galena. Alderley Edge, Cheshire, Britain




Click here



250µm


Galena (white, top left) and sphalerite (light grey, centre top) are the main sulphides cementing the quartz grains (dark grey). Sphalerite has a thin discontinuous galena veinlet within it. Dark areas (right centre) arc polishing pits infilled with ¼æm diamond paste which gives diffuse light-coloured internal reflections.


Polished block, plane polarized light, x 80, air



Click here for Associations Click here for Mineralogy Click here for high-res image (~300K)