[Rockhounds] identity question

[Dennis Buffenmyer]

I am going to ask; what I hope is not a stupid question. Is there any 
way , of making a distinction, by visual means, of whether a piece would 
come from the viburnum trend, or a Mississippi Valley lead zinc ore 
deposit. I have a wonderful looking galena specimen of some size that 
generally appears to come from somewhere around there, and was hoping to 
better identify it. Would the matrix be obviously different? I know from 
what I have read that one of the principle differences between the two 
is the means and speed of precipitation of minerals.  Which makes one 
wonder, is that a BIG small xtal or a small big one. I would be perhaps 
more sure of an id based on analytical means, but is anyone really going 
to spend the money to confirm that a particular specimen does or does 
not come from a particular source, and specifically if the specimen may 
only be worth $100 if the location is known?? In buying a specimen are 
there any assurances to be aware of?

Enjoy the day

Dennis Buffenmyer