So, I thought I'd blog a bit about the photo of a hunk of Galena I have set as my main photo. For the schlobs out there who don't know, Galena is the main ore from which lead is extracted.

I had the opportunity in college to go tour a mine in southeastern Missouri from which Galena is extracted. Very awesome. Took an elevator 1000's of feet underground and road in the back of a pickup around the mine. Before we went down there, everyone put on their hardhats and hip waders. Down in the mine, it is so dark and the only sounds are those of the air ducts - you lose all frame of reference. Anyway, so we stop at the end of some shaft and get to scrouge around for rock samples that we like. But the mine leaks, of course, and we are up about 2.5 feet in water wading around the bottom of the mine. Good thing I'm not claustrophobic.

Anyway, I just hope everyone can appreciate the beauty of the glimmering metallic faces of this very cool mineral.