Sulfur
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:AlexmarPhoto&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="User:AlexmarPhoto (page does not exist)">AlexmarPhoto</a> (CC BY 4.0)
Mineral NameSulfur
Chemical FormulaS
Mohs Hardness1.5
Crystal Systemorthorhombic
Lusterresinous
Streak Colorwhite to pale yellow
Cleavagepoor/imperfect on {001} and {110}
Fractureconchoidal to uneven
Specific Gravity2.07
Colorsyellow, yellowish-brown, greenish-yellow, orange-yellow
Transparencytransparent to translucent
Type LocalitySicily (Italy), Louisiana (USA), Poland, Kawah Ijen (Indonesia)
Mineral GroupNative Elements
Usessulfuric acid production, fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, rubber vulcanization, pharmaceuticals
Associated Mineralsgypsum, calcite, aragonite, celestine, halite, pyrite
Raritycommon
Description
This image displays sulfur crystals grown from a melt under polarized light, showing a vibrant array of interference colors including yellow, purple, blue, and pink, forming distinct, angular crystalline domains. Macroscopically, sulfur typically appears as bright yellow, often botryoidal or well-formed orthorhombic crystals.
Geological Context
Sulfur forms in diverse geological settings, notably in volcanic fumaroles through sublimation, in sedimentary evaporite deposits from the bacterial reduction of sulfates, and as an alteration product of sulfide minerals.
