Stable >95.39°C, metastable at room temperature, less dense than sulphur (α-sulphur).
Pure crystals of the metastable monoclinic form can be preserved for weeks at room temperature.
It can be prepared by crystallising at 100°C and cooling rapidly to slow down formation of sulphur (α-sulphur).

Classification of Sulphur-βHide

IMA status:

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

Physical Properties of Sulphur-βHide

Transparency:

Transparent

Colour:

pale yellow

Density:

2.0 g/cm³ (Measured)

Chemical Properties of Sulphur-βHide

Formula:

S₈

Like α-sulphur, made of S₈ rings.

IMA Formula:

Elements listed:

S - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of Sulphur-βHide

Crystal System:

Monoclinic

Class (H-M):

2/m - Prismatic

Space Group:

P2₁/b

Setting:

P2₁/a

Cell Parameters:

a = 10.778 Å, b = 10.844 Å, c = 10.924 Å
β = 95.80°

Ratio:

a:b:c = 0.994 : 1 : 1.007

Unit Cell V:

1,270.22 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Geological Setting:

Commonly found as pale yellow needles around low-temperature fumaroles with gas temperatures above 96°C

Type Occurrence of Sulphur-βHide

Type Locality:

ⓘ La Fossa crater, Vulcano Island, Lipari, Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands), Messina Province, Sicily, Italy

Geological Setting of Type Material:

Fumaroles in the crater of a dormant volcano.

Synonyms of Sulphur-βHide

Relationship of Sulphur-β to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Sulphur Group

Other Members of this group:

Rosickýite	S	Mon. 2/m : P2/b
Sulphur	S₈	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Fddd

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

3 photos of Sulphur-β associated with Opal	SiO₂ · nH₂O
3 photos of Sulphur-β associated with Cristobalite	SiO₂

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Sulphur-βHide

Reference List:

Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)

Panichi, U. (1912): Sullo zolfo di Vulcano (Isole Eolie). Atti dell'Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali in Catania, Serie 5, Vol.5, 1-15.

Sands, D. E. (1965): The crystal structure of monoclinic (β) sulfur. Journal of the American Chemical Society 87, 1395-1396.

Templeton, L. K., Templeton, D. H. & Zalkin, A. (1976): Crystal structure of monoclinic sulfur. Inorg. Chem. 15, 1999-2001.

Goldsmith, L. M. & Strouse, C. E. (1977): Molecular dynamics in the solid state. The order-disorder transition of monoclinic sulfur. Journal of the American Chemical Society 99, 7580-7589.

Taylor, P. & Rummery, T. E. (1978): The redetermined x-ray powder diffraction pattern of β-sulfur. Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry 40, 1444-14446.

Wiberg, N. (1985) Hollemann-Wiberg Lehrbuch der Anorganischen Chemie, 91.-100. ed.

David, W. I. F.; Ibberson, R. M.; Cox, S. F. J.; Wood, P. T. (2006): Order-disorder transition in monoclinic sulfur: a precise structural study by high-resolution neutron powder diffraction. Acta Crystallographica, B62, 953-959.

David, W. I. F.; Ibberson, R. M.; Cox, S. F. J.; Wood, P. T. (2007): Order-disorder transition in monoclinic sulfur: a precise structural study by high-resolution neutron powder diffraction. Acta Crystallographica, B63, 803. [Erratum]

Internet Links for Sulphur-βHide

mindat.org URL:

https://www.mindat.org/min-39990.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

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External Links:

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Look for Sulphur-β on Wikipedia

Look for Sulphur-β on Mineralien Atlas

Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

Handbook of Mineralogy page PDF

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Localities for Sulphur-βHide

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for 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 (eg from pseudomorphs.)

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Czech Republic
Central Bohemian Region ⓘ Kladno District ?	Zacek, V., Oplustil, S., Mayova, A. & Meyer, F. R. (1995): Die Mineralien von Kladno in Mittelböhmen, Tschechische Republik. Mineralien-Welt 6 (1), 13-30 (in German).
South Moravian Region Brno-Country District Oslavany ⓘ Rosice-Oslavany coalfield	Hršelová, P., Cempírek, J., Houzar, S., Sejkora, J. (2013): S,F,Cl-rich mineral assemblages from burned spoil heaps in the Rosice-Oslavany coalfield, Czech Republic. Can. Mineral.: 51(1): 171-188

Hungary
Heves County ⓘ Recsk	Tokody, L. (1954): The occurrence of native α- and β-sulfur at Recsk, Mátra Mountains. Ann. Hist.-Nat. Musei Natl. Hung. 5, 15-19. (in German)

Italy (TL)
Sicily Messina Province Eolie Islands (Aeolian Islands) Lipari Vulcano Island ⓘ La Fossa crater (TL)	Panichi, U. (1912): Sullo zolfo di Vulcano (Isole Eolie). Atti dell'Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali in Catania, Serie 5, Vol.5, 1-15.

Japan
Kagoshima Prefecture Kagoshima District Mishima village Satsuma-Ioujima (Satsuma-Iwojima; Iou island) Iodake (Iwodake; Ioudake) ⓘ Main Crater	Amir Akhavan Field Observations

USA
Pennsylvania Schuylkill Co. ⓘ Forestville	Finkelman, R. B. & Mrose, M. E. (1977): Downeyite, the first verified natural occurrence of selenium dioxide. American Mineralogist 62, 316-320.

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