Image: <bdi><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q56247090" class="extiw" title="d:Q56247090"><span title="mineral collector and dealer">Robert M. Lavinsky</span></a></bdi> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
monoclinicuncommonSulfides
Orpiment
As₂S₃
This specimen displays bright, vibrant lemon-yellow to orange-yellow foliated masses of orpiment, often with a resinous to pearly luster, sometimes forming tabular crystals.
Orpiment Physical Properties
Mohs Hardness
1.5Crystal System
monoclinicLuster
resinousStreak Color
pale yellowCleavage
perfect on {010}Fracture
conchoidalSpecific Gravity
3.49Colors
lemon yellow, golden yellow, orange yellow, brownish yellowTransparency
translucentType Locality
El'brusskiy (Elbrusskii) Arsenic mine, Elbrus, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Northern Caucasus, RussiaMineral Group
SulfidesUses
pigment (historical), collectorAssociated Minerals
baryte, realgar, arsenic, calcite, gypsumRarity
uncommonGeological Context
Orpiment is a low-temperature hydrothermal mineral, typically found in hot spring deposits, volcanic fumaroles, and as an alteration product of other arsenic minerals like realgar in ore veins.
