The galena collected at the LaFarge Quarry in Dundas was very pure but it also came mixed with other minerals. This posed a problem, because if I wanted to easily smelt the galena, it would be important that my sample be fairly pure.

After researching some different methods that are used in modern industry I made a few attempt to separate the desired galena using different processes. First, I crushed some samples into powder, impurities and all. Then I proceeded with a special heating regiment, additives like pine oil, and aerated water baths but none of these were successful trying to get the galena to be distinct from the other contaminating minerals. And, in the end, all these experiment left me with nothing more than a new appreciation of just how refined our modern methods are …

After all that I figured out the probably best way to get my nice, pure sample was going to be simply cleaving the other minerals away using an old chisel. I realized that since I’m not looking for an industrial amount of galena such a basic method is quite workable. And, after a few hours of work, I now have a very pure pile (about the size of a flat golf-ball) that I can move forward in experimenting with.