Dimorphite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Dimorphite
Formula:
As4S3
Colour:
Orange-yellow
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
1½
Specific Gravity:
3.58
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
From the Greek for two and form, for the two forms that the mineral supposedly occurs in.
Type Locality:
Dimorph of:
This page provides mineralogical data about Dimorphite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1292
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1292:4
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
21f66dc0-cd67-45cd-842b-4ee09ed81475
IMA Classification of Dimorphite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1849
Classification of Dimorphite
2.FA.10
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
F : Sulfides of arsenic, alkalies; sulfides with halide, oxide, hydroxide, H2O
A : With As, (Sb), S
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
F : Sulfides of arsenic, alkalies; sulfides with halide, oxide, hydroxide, H2O
A : With As, (Sb), S
2.6.1.1
2 : SULFIDES
6 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 4:3
2 : SULFIDES
6 : AmBnXp, with (m+n):p = 4:3
3.7.3
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
7 : Sulphides etc. of V, As, Sb and Bi
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Dim | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Dimorphite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Orange-yellow
Streak:
Yellow
Hardness:
1½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
3.58 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.60 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Dimorphite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
Dispersion:
strong
Chemistry of Dimorphite
Mindat Formula:
As4S3
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Dimorphite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pnma
Setting:
Pnma
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.24 Å, b = 9.90 Å, c = 6.56 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.135 : 1 : 0.663
Unit Cell V:
729.97 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Dipyramidal crystals.
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0014106 | Dimorphite | Whitfield H J (1973) Crystal structure of the beta-form of tetraarsenic trisulphide Journal of the Chemical Society, Dalton Transactions, Inorganic Chemistry 1973 1737-1738 | 1973 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
4.89 Å | (100) |
2.14 Å | (50) |
1.620 Å | (50) |
3.91 Å | (40) |
5.64 Å | (30) |
3.07 Å | (25) |
2.94 Å | (25) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 3a: Earth’s earliest Hadean crust | >4.50 |
11 : Volcanic fumarole minerals; reduced phases (see also #45) | |
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Geological Setting:
Secondary zone of ore deposits.
Type Occurrence of Dimorphite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum, Paris, France, 50.588, 99.492.
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1937,1432.
The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1937,1432.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Fumarolic vent
Reference:
Scacchi, A. (1849) Memoria IIIa. Esame delle sostanze che si formano presso i fumaroli della Regione Flegrea. Memorie Geologiche sulla Campania 3a, (Napoli), 83-131.
Synonyms of Dimorphite
Other Language Names for Dimorphite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
6 photos of Dimorphite associated with Realgar | As4S4 |
1 photo of Dimorphite associated with Bonazziite | As4S4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
2.FA. | Anorpiment | As2S3 |
2.FA. | Bonazziite | As4S4 |
2.FA. | Paradimorphite | As4S3 |
2.FA.05 | Duranusite | As4S |
2.FA.15b | Pararealgar | As4S4 |
2.FA.15a | Realgar | As4S4 |
2.FA.15d | UM1970-18-S:As | As4S4 |
2.FA.20 | Alacránite | As8S9 |
2.FA.25 | Uzonite | As4S5 |
2.FA.30 | Laphamite | As2Se3 |
2.FA.30 | Orpiment | As2S3 |
2.FA.35 | Getchellite | AsSbS3 |
2.FA.40 | Wakabayashilite | [(As,Sb)6S9][As4S5] |
2.FA.40 | Kalgoorlieite | As2Te3 |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Dimorphite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1292.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Dimorphite
Localities for Dimorphite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Chile | |
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Greece | |
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Italy (TL) | |
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Peru | |
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Russia | |
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Solfatara di Pozzuoli, Pozzuoli, Naples, Campania, Italy