Realgar
Mineral As4S4
Also called Ruby sulphur and Red arsenic
Take care.
- Contains arsenic: Wash your hands after handling it, don't make dust, and never heat it.
- Fades or changes in light: Keep it in the dark, out of sunlight and bright display lights.
- Fragile: Handle it gently and pack it well; it breaks or crumbles easily.
About it
Bright red to orange crystals that crumble to a yellow-orange powder (pararealgar) if left in light, so store it in the dark. Fine crystals come from Shimen, Hunan, China, and the Getchell mine, Nevada.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Sulfide
- Formula
- As4S4
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 1.5–2
- Specific gravity
- 3.56
- Streak
- orange-red
- Lustre
- resinous, greasy
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- red, orange-red
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- good in one direction; conchoidal fracture, sectile
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.