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Realgar

Big Photo

Jiepaiyu Mine (Shimen Mine), Shimen As-(Au) deposit, Shimen Co., Changde Prefecture, Hunan Province, China
© Tony Peterson

Show Realgar Photos (377)
Formula:
As
 
4
S
 
4
System:MonoclinicColour:Dark red to orange-red
Lustre:Resinous, GreasyHardness:1½ - 2
Name:From Arabic "rahj al-gahr", powder of the mine.


Alters to pararealgar on exposure to light.

Classification of Realgar

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:2/F.02-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:2.FA.15a

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
Dana 8th edition ID:2.8.21.1

2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:3.7.4

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
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Physical Properties of Realgar

Lustre:Resinous, Greasy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Dark red to orange-red
Streak:Orange-red to red
Hardness (Mohs):1½ - 2
Tenacity:Sectile
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Good on {010}, less good on {100}, {101}, {120}, {110}
Density (measured):3.56 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.59 g/cm3

Crystallography of Realgar

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 9.325(3) Å, b = 13.571(5) Å, c = 6.587(3) Å
β = 106.43°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.687 : 1 : 0.485
Unit Cell Volume:V 799.54 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:16
Morphology:Prismatic
Twinning:Contact twins on {100}
Crystal Atlas:
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Realgar no.33 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Realgar - Highly modified

About Crystal Atlas

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Realgar

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 2.538 nβ = 2.684 nγ = 2.704
2V:Measured: 40° , Calculated: 38°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.166

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Type:Anisotropic
Anisotropism:Strong
Dispersion:relatively strong
Colour in reflected light:gray white
Internal Reflections:yellow to red
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:Nearly colorless to pale golden yellow.

Chemical Properties of Realgar

Formula:
As
 
4
S
 
4
Essential elements:As, S
All elements listed in formula:As, S

Relationship of Realgar to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
2.FA.05Duranusite
As
 
4
S
2.FA.10Dimorphite
As
 
4
S
 
3
2.FA.15bPararealgar
As
 
4
S
 
4
2.FA.15cUM1970-19-S:As
As
 
4
S
 
4
2.FA.15dUM1970-18-S:As
As
 
4
S
 
4
2.FA.20Alacránite
As
 
8
S
 
9
2.FA.25Uzonite
As
 
4
S
 
5
2.FA.30Laphamite
As
 
2
(S,Se)
 
3
2.FA.30Orpiment
As
 
2
S
 
3
2.FA.35Getchellite
AsSbS
 
3
2.FA.40Wakabayashilite
[(As,Sb)
 
6
S
 
9
][As
 
4
S
 
5
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
3.7.1Patrónite
VS
 
4
3.7.2Duranusite
As
 
4
S
3.7.3Dimorphite
As
 
4
S
 
3
3.7.5Pararealgar
As
 
4
S
 
4
3.7.6Alacránite
As
 
8
S
 
9
3.7.7Uzonite
As
 
4
S
 
5
3.7.8Orpiment
As
 
2
S
 
3
3.7.9Jeromite
3.7.10Laphamite
As
 
2
(S,Se)
 
3
3.7.11Getchellite
AsSbS
 
3
3.7.12Wakabayashilite
[(As,Sb)
 
6
S
 
9
][As
 
4
S
 
5
]
3.7.13Pääkkönenite
Sb
 
2
AsS
 
2
3.7.14Stibnite
Sb
 
2
S
 
3
3.7.15Metastibnite
Sb
 
2
S
 
3
3.7.16Tellurantimony
Sb
 
2
Te
 
3
3.7.17Bismuthinite
Bi
 
2
S
 
3
3.7.18Nevskite
Bi(Se,S)
3.7.19Guanajuatite
Bi
 
2
(Se,S)
 
3
3.7.21Ikunolite
Bi
 
4
(S,Se)
 
3
3.7.22Laitakarite
Bi
 
4
Se
 
2
S
3.7.23Poubaite
PbBi
 
2
(Se,Te,S)
 
4
3.7.24Tellurobismuthite
Bi
 
2
Te
 
3
3.7.25Součekite
PbCuBi(S,Se)
 
3
3.7.26Tsumoite
BiTe
3.7.27Pilsenite
Bi
 
4
Te
 
3
3.7.28Hedleyite
Bi
 
7
Te
 
3
3.7.29Tetradymite
Bi
 
2
Te
 
2
S
3.7.30Joséite
Bi
 
4
TeS
 
2
3.7.31Joséite-B
Bi
 
4
Te
 
2
S
3.7.32Ingodite
Bi
 
2
TeS
3.7.33Sulphotsumoite
Bi
 
3
Te
 
2
S
3.7.34Kawazulite
Bi
 
2
Te
 
2
Se
3.7.36Skippenite
Bi
 
2
TeSe
 
2
3.7.37Kochkarite
PbBi
 
4
Te
 
7
3.7.38Rucklidgeite
(Bi,Pb)
 
3
Te
 
4
3.7.39Aleksite
PbBi
 
2
Te
 
2
S
 
2
3.7.40Junoite
Cu
 
2
Pb
 
3
Bi
 
8
(S,Se)
 
16

Other Names for Realgar

Synonyms:
EoliteRealgariteRed ArsenicRed OrpimentRisigallo
RisigallumRuby SulfurRuby SulphurSandaracha
Other Languages:
Catalan:Realgar
Czech:Realgar
Dutch:Realgaar
French:Réalgar
Arsenic Rouge
German:Realgar
Eolit
Realgarit
Greek:Σανδαράκη
Σανδαραχη
Hungarian:Realgár
Italian:Realgar
Japanese:鶏冠石
Lithuanian:Realgaras
Low Saxon:Realgar
Polish:Realgar
Portuguese:Realgar
Romanian:Realgar
Russian:Реальгар
Slovak:Realgár
Spanish:Rejalgar
Eolita
Realgarita
Swedish:Realgar

Other Information

Health Warning:Contains arsenic - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest.

References for Realgar

Reference List:Acta Crystallographica: 5: 775-782.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 834pp.: 255-258.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 136: 48-65.

American Mineralogist (1972): 57: 524.

Kyono, A., Kimata, M. & Hatta, T. (2005): Light-induced degradation dynamics in realgar: In situ structural investigation using single-crystal X-ray diffraction study and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. American Mineralogist 90, 1563-1570.

Articles/Blogs about Realgar

Article entries:
The Extraction Of Arsenic From RealgarDavid Aldridge

Internet Links for Realgar

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