Native Sulfur
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Cccefalon" title="User:Cccefalon">CEphoto, Uwe Aranas</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameNative Sulfur
Chemical FormulaS
Mohs Hardness1.5
Crystal Systemorthorhombic
Lusterresinous
Streak Coloryellow to white
Cleavagepoor/imperfect on {001}, {110}, {111}
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity2.07
Colorsyellow, greenish-yellow, yellowish-brown
Transparencytransparent to translucent
Type LocalityKawah Ijen, Banyuwangi Regency, East Java, Indonesia
Mineral GroupNative Elements
Usesindustrial, fertilizers, sulfuric acid production, gunpowder, vulcanization of rubber, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, collector
Associated Mineralsgypsum, calcite, aragonite, celestine, barite, realgar, orpiment
Raritycommon
Description
The image shows large, irregular chunks of bright yellow to greenish-yellow native sulfur, manually collected and placed in woven baskets, ready for transport.
Geological Context
Native sulfur commonly forms in volcanic and fumarolic environments through the sublimation of sulfur gases, as seen at Kawah Ijen, or in sedimentary deposits from the reduction of sulfates by bacteria.
