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Realgar Orpiment Mineral Specimen

$250.00 $224.99

Deep-red-to-orange in color, realgar, or arsenic sulfide, crystallizes in the monoclinic system, usually in granular, earthy, or incrusting forms. It forms in low-temperature, hydrothermal veins. The color will fade if kept out in light for extended periods of time.

Sunny lemon-yellow to orange in color, orpiment crystallizes in the monoclinic system as short, small prisms, micaceous flakes, and granular aggregates or incrustations.Sunny

Size: 3″ x 6″

 

Locality: Minas Quiruvilca, Santiago, De Chuco, Peru

 

SKU: REA5. Tags: .

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Realgar Orpiment Mineral Specimen

REALGAR

HISTORY, NAME, LOCALITIES: Realgar, pronounced ree-AL-gur, has been known since antiquity and was recognized as a mineral species in 1747.  Its name stems from the Arabic rahj al-gāhr, meaning “powder of the mine.”  Important collecting localities are found in Hungary, China, the Czech Republic, Russia, and the United States (Utah, Nevada).

 

MINERALOGY, PROPERTIES, OCCURRENCE: Realgar [antimony sulfide, As4S4] crystallizes in the monoclinic system, usually in granular, earthy, or incrusting forms; crystals, which are rare, have rounded, diamond-like cross sections.  It has a Mohs hardness of 1.5-2.0, good cleavage in one direction, a resinous luster, and a specific gravity of 3.5-3.6.  It is transparent to translucent with a diagnostic, deep-red-to-orange color that is caused by its essential elements and the light-absorption properties of its crystal lattice.  Realgar occurs in low-temperature, hydrothermal veins and in volcanic fumaroles in association with such minerals as cinnabar, orpiment, and stibnite.

 

METAPHYSICAL PROPERTIES, LORE, USES:  Realgar was used extensively as a rodent poison in medieval Europe.  Until the early 20th century, realgar was widely used in medicine as a purgative and to treat infections.  According to current metaphysical beliefs, realgar energizes the body, increases sexuality and fertility, and reveals both the positive and negative qualities of the inner soul.  It is an important ore of arsenic and is used in certain pyrotechnic applications.

 

COLLECTORS’ INFORMATION: Realgar is collected for its bright, deep-red-to-orange colors, rarity of crystal form, and occurrence in composite specimens with such minerals as orpiment, cinnabar, and stibnite.

 

ORPIMENT

 

HISTORY, NAME, LOCALITIES: Orpiment, pronounced ORE-puh-ment, has been known since antiquity when it was used as a yellow-orange pigment.  Its name stems from the Latin auripigmentum, literally “gold-colored,” alluding to its yellow-orange colors.  Notable collecting localities are found in Japan, Peru, Mexico, Canada, Italy, Russia, China, and the United States (Nevada, Utah).

 

MINERALOGY, PROPERTIES, OCCURRENCE: Orpiment [arsenic trisulfide, As2S3] crystallizes in the monoclinic system as short, small prisms, micaceous flakes, or granular aggregates or incrustations.  It is transparent to translucent and its diagnostic yellow-orange colors are caused by its chemical composition and the light-absorption characteristics of its crystal lattice.  It has a Mohs hardness of 1.5-2.0, perfect cleavage in one direction, a resinous luster, and a specific gravity of 3.4-3.5.  Orpiment forms in low-temperature, hydrothermal veins from the alteration of realgar and native arsenic, and occurs in association with stibnite, realgar, cinnabar, and calcite.

 

METAPHYSICAL PROPERTIES, LORE, USES: Orpiment was formerly a yellow-orange pigment and, until the 1970s, an ore of arsenic.  Until the early 20th century, orpiment was widely used in medicine as a purgative and to treat infections.  According to current metaphysical beliefs, orpiment speeds recovery from disease and imparts direction and a sense of purpose to aid in the understanding and removal of mental blocks.

 

COLLECTORS’ INFORMATION: Orpiment is collected for its unusual chemistry; bright, yellow-orange colors; rarity of large crystals, and association with such colorful and uncommon minerals as realgar and cinnabar.

SKU: REA5 Tag: .

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