Sulfur (Sulphur)
Current inventory: 0 gems
 

 
The name Sulfur is historically a Latin word. The original Latin spelling was sulpur, the later Greek spelling was sulphur. The sulfur spelling appeared toward the end of the Classical period (about AD 600).

Discovery: prehistoric; IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

S₈ or S

Elemental Sulfur

Molecular Weight:

256.53 gm

Composition:

Sulfur

100.00 %

S

100.00 %

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Elements

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

1/B.03-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

1.CC.05

1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
C : Metalloids and Nonmetals
C : Sulfur-selenium-iodine

Related to:

Sulfur Group. Polymorph of Rosickýite, Sulphur-β

Members of Group:

Sulfur Group: Rosickýite, Sulfur, Sulfur-β

Varieties:

Selenian Sulfur

Synonyms:

α-Sulfur, α-Sulphur, Alpha-Sulfur, Alpha-Sulphur, Brimstone, ICSD 63082, Native S, Native Sulfur, Native Sulphur, PDF 8-247, Schwefel, Soufre, Sulfur-alpha, Sulfur-α, Sulphur-alpha

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal

Crystal Habit:

Crystals dipyramidal on {111}, thick tabular and disphenoidal, to 20 cm; also massive, reniform, and forming stalactites; as a powder. 

Twinning:

On {101}, {011}, {1l0}, rare

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Imperfect on {001}, {110} and {111}. Parting on {111}.

Fracture:

Irregular/uneven, conchoidal. Also can be somewhat sectile.

Tenacity:

Rather brittle to somewhat sectile

Moh's Hardness:

1.5 - 2.5

Density:

2.07 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Other:

Thermal Behaviour: with a low melting point of 113 degrees C, Sulfur burns readily in air, with a low blue flame, and gives off choking fumes of Sulfur-dioxide - acrid odor (forms sulfurous and eventually sulfuric acid in air).

Optical Properties

Color:

Sulfur-yellow to honey-yellow, yellowish brown, greenish, reddish or yellowish gray; may be black from included organic matter.

Transparency:

Transparent, translucent

Luster:

Resinous, greasy

Refractive Index:

1.708 - 1.773  Biaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.287

Dispersion:

Relatively weak; r < v

Pleochroism:

Visible to distinct

Occurances

Geological Setting:

A sublimation product at volcanic fumaroles; a product of the activity of biological micro-organisms; as a result of low oxidation potential and highly acidic chemical reactions in mineral deposits; formed by the decomposition of sulfides, especially pyrite, during mine fires; found in sedimentary rocks.

Common Associations:

Gypsum, Anhydrite, Halite, Aragonite, Calcite, Celestine

Common Impurities:

Se, Te

Type Locality:

None (prehistoric)

Year Discovered:

Prehistoric

View mineral photos:

Sulfur Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Sulfur (also spelled Sulphur in some countries) is one of the 30 native elements. Native element minerals are those elements that occur in nature in uncombined form with a distinct mineral structure. A few of the other native elements are Antimony, Carbon (Diamond), Copper, Gold, Osmium, Platinum and Silver.

Sulfur and Diamond are the only native elements that are usually available as faceted gems. Faceted Diamonds are common but facted Sulfur gems are somewhat rare because Sulfur is difficult to cut due to its very low Moh's hardness of 1.5 - 2.5 and its high heat sensitivity. Sulfur is very brittle because of its poor heat conductivity. A cool Sulfur gem can actually crack if it is held in a warm hand. Sulfur is a common mineral but faceted gems are fairly rare.

Sulfur also has a bad reputation for having a strong odor. The Sulfur itself does not have an odor. This odor only occurs when Sulfur is exposed to water, water vapor or even humidity in the air. When this occurs, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas is produced which produces the strong odor. It is a powerfull odor which smells like rotten eggs. However, if Sulfur mineral specimens and gems are kept dry they will not emit the odor.

The name Sulfur is historically a Latin word. The original Latin spelling was sulpur, the later Greek spelling was sulphur. The sulfur spelling appeared toward the end of the Classical period (about AD 600). Sulphur has been the standard spelling in Britain since the 19th century while Sulfur has been the spelling in the USA and Canada has used both spellings. However, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) adopted the sulfur spelling in 1990. The Nomenclature Committee of the Royal Society of Chemistry restored the sulfur spelling to Britain in 1992.

Sulfur is available from many sources worldwide although fine crystal specimens are somewhat rare. Notable occurances include Michigan and Ohio in the USA; Bolivia; Chile; Poland; and Sicily, Italy.

Sulfur distribution: in the USA, large deposits occur in salt domes, as in Louisiana, especially in the area of Lake Charles, Chalcasieu Parish, and in Texas near Freeport, Brazoria County. At Sulfur Mountain, in Yellowstone Park, Wyoming. In California, at the Sulfur Bank mercury mine, on Clear Creek, Lake County. Crystals from quarries at Maybee and Scofield, Monroe County, Michigan. On Sicily, at Cianciana, Agrigento, and Racalmuto, the source of exceptionally large and fine crystals; from many other places in Italy, notably at Solfatara di Pozzuoli, near Naples; at Perticara, near Rimini, Marche; and at Carrara, Tuscany. Large crystals from Spain, at Conil, near Cádiz, Cádiz Province. In Baja California, Mexico, at San Felipe. Numerous other localities are known, the occurrence often inconspicuous.
 

  
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