[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"minerals:one:3375":3},{"id":4,"longid":5,"guid":6,"name":7,"shortcode_ima":8,"entrytype":9,"entrytype_text":10,"varietyof":11,"synid":11,"polytypeof":11,"groupid":11,"weighting":12,"nolocadd":13,"blacklisted":13,"mindat_formula":14,"mindat_formula_note":11,"ima_formula":15,"elements":16,"sigelements":19,"key_elements":20,"impurities":11,"cim":21,"ima_status":22,"ima_notes":11,"ima_history":11,"approval_year":11,"publication_year":11,"discovery_year":25,"strunz10ed1":26,"strunz10ed2":27,"strunz10ed3":28,"strunz10ed4":29,"dana8ed1":26,"dana8ed2":30,"dana8ed3":31,"dana8ed4":32,"csystem":33,"cclass":34,"spacegroup":11,"spacegroupset":35,"a":36,"b":37,"c":38,"alpha":35,"beta":39,"gamma":35,"aerror":40,"berror":34,"cerror":40,"alphaerror":11,"betaerror":11,"gammaerror":11,"va3":11,"z":41,"csmetamict":13,"commentcrystal":42,"twinning":43,"tranglide":11,"parting":11,"epitaxidescription":11,"morphology":44,"tlform":11,"hmin":45,"hmax":46,"hardtype":11,"vhnmin":35,"vhnmax":35,"vhnerror":11,"vhng":11,"vhns":11,"commenthard":11,"dmeas":47,"dmeas2":47,"dcalc":48,"dmeaserror":11,"dcalcerror":11,"commentdense":11,"lustre":49,"lustretype":50,"commentluster":11,"diapheny":51,"streak":52,"colour":53,"commentcolor":11,"colors":54,"streak_colors":58,"luminescence":59,"uv":11,"cleavage":60,"cleavagetype":61,"fracturetype":11,"tenacity":62,"commentbreak":11,"opticaltype":63,"opticalsign":64,"opticalalpha":65,"opticalalpha2":35,"opticalalphaerror":11,"opticalbeta":66,"opticalbeta2":35,"opticalbetaerror":11,"opticalgamma":67,"opticalgamma2":35,"opticalgammaerror":11,"opticalomega":35,"opticalomega2":35,"opticalomegaerror":11,"opticalepsilon":35,"opticalepsilon2":35,"opticalepsilonerror":11,"opticaln":35,"opticaln2":35,"opticalnerror":11,"optical2vcalc":68,"optical2vcalc2":35,"optical2vcalcerror":11,"optical2vmeasured":69,"optical2vmeasured2":35,"optical2vmeasurederror":11,"rimin":70,"rimax":71,"opticaldispersion":72,"opticalpleochroism":73,"opticalpleochorismdesc":74,"opticalbirefringence":11,"opticalcomments":11,"opticalcolour":75,"opticalinternal":76,"opticaltropic":77,"opticalanisotropism":78,"opticalbireflectance":11,"opticalextinction":11,"opticalr":79,"specdispm":80,"ir":11,"electrical":11,"magnetism":11,"thermalbehaviour":81,"other":82,"industrial":11,"occurrence":11,"otheroccurrence":11,"type_specimen_store":11,"description_short":83,"aboutname":84,"rock_parent":11,"rock_parent2":11,"rock_root":9,"rock_bgs_code":11,"meteoritical_code":11,"updttime":85,"reviewed_at":11,"variety_of":11,"varieties":86,"group_members":87,"associates":88,"confused_with":207,"type_localities":209,"occurrence_total":210,"citations":211,"images":308,"structures":566,"synonyms":592,"language_names":608,"wikidata_qid":860,"texts":861},3375,"1:1:3375:2","decbdebf-d464-41b5-93e3-597362da6d5d","Realgar","Rlg",0,"mineral",null,21033,false,"As\u003Csub>4\u003C\u002Fsub>S\u003Csub>4\u003C\u002Fsub>","AsS",[17,18],"As","S",[17,18],[17],"3.7.4",[23,24],"APPROVED","GRANDFATHERED","1747","2","F","A","15a","8","21","1","Monoclinic",5,"0","9.325","13.571","6.587","106.43",3,16,"Space Group: P21\u002Fn.","Contact twins on {100}","Prismatic",1.5,2,"3.56","3.59","Adamantine","Resinous,Greasy","Transparent","Orange-red to red","Dark red to orange-red",[55,56,57],"red","orange","yellow",[56,55],"None","Good on {010}, less good on {100}, \u003Cmi>{_101}\u003C\u002Fmi>, {120}, {110}","Distinct\u002FGood","sectile","Biaxial","-","2.538","2.684","2.704","38","40",2.538,2.704,"Relatively strong.","Visible","Nearly colourless to pale golden yellow.","Gray white.","Yellow to red.","Anisotropic","Strong.","(29.9) 400,\r\n(28.6) 420,\r\n(27.4) 440,\r\n(26.3) 460,\r\n(25.2) 480,\r\n(24.2) 500,\r\n(23.3) 520,\r\n(22.4) 540,\r\n(21.7) 560,\r\n(21.1) 580,\r\n(20.6) 600,\r\n(20.3) 620,\r\n(20.0) 640,\r\n(19.7) 660,\r\n(19.5) 680,\r\n(19.3) 700","Decomposes to orange pararealgar with exposure to light.","Heated in a closed tube, it melts, volatilizes, and gives a transparent red sublimate. Heating slowly in an open tube, it gives sulphurous fumes and a white crystalline sublimate.  ","Soluble in caustic alkalies.","Alters to pararealgar on exposure to light.\r\n\r\nVisually similar to sarabauite and other red arsenic-sulphur minerals.","From Arabic \"rahj al-gahr\", powder of the mine. Known as a mineral pigment in Byzantium (essentially Asia Minor and the Balkan Peninsula) at least by the beginning of the thirteenth century and presumably having a name by that time. An old realgar locality on the Balkan Peninsula is found at Allchar, Republic of Macedonia.","2025-08-11 12:14:23",[],[],[89,95,102,110,117,123,129,138,145,152,158,165,172,178,185,192,199],{"id":90,"name":91,"entrytype":9,"csystem":33,"ima_formula":92,"mindat_formula":92,"hmin":45,"hmax":45,"dmeas":93,"dcalc":93,"primary_image_id":94},91,"Alacránite","As\u003Csub>8\u003C\u002Fsub>S\u003Csub>9\u003C\u002Fsub>","3.43",524,{"id":96,"name":97,"entrytype":9,"csystem":98,"ima_formula":17,"mindat_formula":17,"hmin":46,"hmax":46,"dmeas":99,"dcalc":100,"primary_image_id":101},312,"Arsenolamprite","Orthorhombic","5.3","5.577",2062,{"id":103,"name":104,"entrytype":9,"csystem":105,"ima_formula":106,"mindat_formula":106,"hmin":45,"hmax":45,"dmeas":107,"dcalc":108,"primary_image_id":109},294,"Arsenolite","Isometric","As\u003Csub>2\u003C\u002Fsub>O\u003Csub>3\u003C\u002Fsub>","3.86","3.88",29151,{"id":111,"name":112,"entrytype":9,"csystem":98,"ima_formula":113,"mindat_formula":114,"hmin":40,"hmax":40,"dmeas":115,"dcalc":115,"primary_image_id":116},549,"Baryte","Ba(SO\u003Csub>4\u003C\u002Fsub>)","BaSO\u003Csub>4\u003C\u002Fsub>","4.50",2758,{"id":118,"name":119,"entrytype":9,"csystem":33,"ima_formula":120,"mindat_formula":120,"hmin":46,"hmax":46,"dmeas":121,"dcalc":122,"primary_image_id":11},636,"Bernardite","TlAs\u003Csub>5\u003C\u002Fsub>S\u003Csub>8\u003C\u002Fsub>","4.5","4.105",{"id":124,"name":125,"entrytype":9,"csystem":33,"ima_formula":14,"mindat_formula":14,"hmin":126,"hmax":126,"dmeas":11,"dcalc":127,"primary_image_id":128},46093,"Bonazziite",2.5,"3.542",3618,{"id":130,"name":131,"entrytype":9,"csystem":132,"ima_formula":133,"mindat_formula":134,"hmin":40,"hmax":40,"dmeas":135,"dcalc":136,"primary_image_id":137},859,"Calcite","Trigonal","Ca(CO\u003Csub>3\u003C\u002Fsub>)","CaCO\u003Csub>3\u003C\u002Fsub>","2.7102","2.711",4401,{"id":139,"name":140,"entrytype":9,"csystem":132,"ima_formula":141,"mindat_formula":141,"hmin":46,"hmax":126,"dmeas":142,"dcalc":143,"primary_image_id":144},1052,"Cinnabar","HgS","8.176","8.20",5743,{"id":146,"name":147,"entrytype":9,"csystem":98,"ima_formula":148,"mindat_formula":148,"hmin":45,"hmax":45,"dmeas":149,"dcalc":150,"primary_image_id":151},1292,"Dimorphite","As\u003Csub>4\u003C\u002Fsub>S\u003Csub>3\u003C\u002Fsub>","3.58","3.60",7231,{"id":153,"name":154,"entrytype":9,"csystem":132,"ima_formula":155,"mindat_formula":155,"hmin":46,"hmax":46,"dmeas":156,"dcalc":157,"primary_image_id":11},1368,"Ellisite","Tl\u003Csub>3\u003C\u002Fsub>AsS\u003Csub>3\u003C\u002Fsub>","7.10","7.18",{"id":159,"name":160,"entrytype":9,"csystem":105,"ima_formula":161,"mindat_formula":161,"hmin":40,"hmax":40,"dmeas":162,"dcalc":163,"primary_image_id":164},1643,"Galkhaite","(Hg\u003Csub>5\u003C\u002Fsub>Cu)CsAs\u003Csub>4\u003C\u002Fsub>S\u003Csub>12\u003C\u002Fsub>","5.4","5.44",9597,{"id":166,"name":167,"entrytype":9,"csystem":132,"ima_formula":168,"mindat_formula":168,"hmin":126,"hmax":126,"dmeas":169,"dcalc":170,"primary_image_id":171},1741,"Gratonite","Pb\u003Csub>9\u003C\u002Fsub>As\u003Csub>4\u003C\u002Fsub>S\u003Csub>15\u003C\u002Fsub>","6.22","6.17",10380,{"id":173,"name":174,"entrytype":9,"csystem":33,"ima_formula":175,"mindat_formula":175,"hmin":46,"hmax":126,"dmeas":176,"dcalc":176,"primary_image_id":177},2434,"Lorándite","TlAsS\u003Csub>2\u003C\u002Fsub>","5.53",14733,{"id":179,"name":180,"entrytype":9,"csystem":132,"ima_formula":17,"mindat_formula":17,"hmin":181,"hmax":181,"dmeas":182,"dcalc":183,"primary_image_id":184},357,"Native Arsenic",3.5,"5.63","5.778",17090,{"id":186,"name":187,"entrytype":9,"csystem":33,"ima_formula":188,"mindat_formula":188,"hmin":45,"hmax":46,"dmeas":189,"dcalc":190,"primary_image_id":191},3021,"Orpiment","As\u003Csub>2\u003C\u002Fsub>S\u003Csub>3\u003C\u002Fsub>","3.49","3.48",30395,{"id":193,"name":194,"entrytype":9,"csystem":98,"ima_formula":195,"mindat_formula":195,"hmin":46,"hmax":46,"dmeas":196,"dcalc":197,"primary_image_id":198},3782,"Stibnite","Sb\u003Csub>2\u003C\u002Fsub>S\u003Csub>3\u003C\u002Fsub>","4.63","4.625",18319,{"id":200,"name":201,"entrytype":9,"csystem":98,"ima_formula":202,"mindat_formula":203,"hmin":45,"hmax":45,"dmeas":204,"dcalc":205,"primary_image_id":206},4232,"Wakabayashilite","(As,Sb)\u003Csub>6\u003C\u002Fsub>As\u003Csub>4\u003C\u002Fsub>S\u003Csub>14\u003C\u002Fsub>","[(As,Sb)\u003Csub>6\u003C\u002Fsub>S\u003Csub>9\u003C\u002Fsub>][As\u003Csub>4\u003C\u002Fsub>S\u003Csub>5\u003C\u002Fsub>]","3.98","4.06",27730,[208],{"id":124,"name":125,"entrytype":9,"csystem":33,"ima_formula":14,"mindat_formula":14,"hmin":126,"hmax":126,"dmeas":11,"dcalc":127,"primary_image_id":128},[],734,[212,216,220,224,228,233,237,241,245,249,253,258,263,267,270,274,277,281,286,290,295,299,303],{"id":213,"year":214,"html":215,"doi":11},16119041,1747,"Wallerius, J.G. (1747) in Mineralogia, eller Mineralriket, (Stockholm).",{"id":217,"year":218,"html":219,"doi":11},16121623,1925,"Weigl, O. (1925) XVIII. Der photochemische Zerfall des Realgars. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 38: 288-308.",{"id":221,"year":222,"html":223,"doi":11},520286,1935,"Buerger, M. J. (1935) The unit cell and space group of realgar. \u003Ci>American Mineralogist\u003C\u002Fi>,  20 (1) 36-43 \u003Ca target='_blank' href='http:\u002F\u002Fwww.minsocam.org\u002Fammin\u002FAM20\u002FAM20_36.pdf' class='refpdflink'>\u003C\u002Fa>",{"id":225,"year":226,"html":227,"doi":11},1118651,1944,"Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1944) \u003Ci>The System of Mineralogy\u003C\u002Fi> (7th ed.) Vol. 1 - Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, New York.",{"id":229,"year":230,"html":231,"doi":232},464219,1952,"Ito, T., Morimoto, N., Sadanaga, R. (1952) The crystal structure of realgar. \u003Ci>Acta Crystallographica\u003C\u002Fi>,  5 (6) 775-782 \u003Ca target='_blank' href='https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1107\u002Fs0365110x52002112'>doi:10.1107\u002Fs0365110x52002112\u003C\u002Fa>","10.1107\u002Fs0365110x52002112",{"id":234,"year":235,"html":236,"doi":11},525214,1969,"Forneris, Roberto (1969) The infrared and Raman spectra of realgar and orpiment. \u003Ci>American Mineralogist\u003C\u002Fi>,  54 (7-8) 1062-1074 \u003Ca target='_blank' href='http:\u002F\u002Fwww.minsocam.org\u002Fammin\u002FAM54\u002FAM54_1062.pdf' class='refpdflink'>\u003C\u002Fa>",{"id":238,"year":235,"html":239,"doi":240},10712360,"Scheuermann, W., Ritter, G. J. (1969) Raman Spectra of Cinnabar (HgS), Realgar (As4S4) and Orpiment (As2S3). \u003Ci>Zeitschrift für Naturforschung A\u003C\u002Fi>, 24 (3). 408-411 \u003Ca target='_blank' href='https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1515\u002Fzna-1969-0317'>doi:10.1515\u002Fzna-1969-0317\u003C\u002Fa>","10.1515\u002Fzna-1969-0317",{"id":242,"year":243,"html":244,"doi":11},525962,1972,"Yu, Shu-Cheng, Zoltai, Tibor (1972) Crystallography of a high-temperature phase of realgar. \u003Ci>American Mineralogist\u003C\u002Fi>,  57 (11-12) 1873-1875 \u003Ca target='_blank' href='http:\u002F\u002Fwww.minsocam.org\u002Fammin\u002FAM57\u002FAM57_1873.pdf' class='refpdflink'>\u003C\u002Fa>",{"id":246,"year":243,"html":247,"doi":248},108425,"Mullen, D. J. E.; Nowacki, W. (1972) Refinement of the crystal structures of realgar, AsS and orpiment, As\u003Csub>2\u003C\u002Fsub>S\u003Csub>3\u003C\u002Fsub>. \u003Ci>Zeitschrift für Kristallographie\u003C\u002Fi>,  136 (1-2). 48-65 \u003Ca target='_blank' href='https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1524\u002Fzkri.1972.136.1-2.48'>doi:10.1524\u002Fzkri.1972.136.1-2.48\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Ca target='_blank' href='https:\u002F\u002Frruff.info\u002Fdoclib\u002Fzk\u002Fvol136\u002FZK136_48.pdf' class='refpdflink'>\u003C\u002Fa>","10.1524\u002Fzkri.1972.136.1-2.48",{"id":250,"year":251,"html":252,"doi":11},16119439,1992,"Douglass, D.L., Shing, C., Wang, G. (1992) The light-induced alteration of realgar to pararealgar. American Mineralogist: 77: 1266-1274.",{"id":254,"year":255,"html":256,"doi":257},1126563,1993,"Criddle, A. J., Stanley, C. J. (1993) Data file. In \u003Ci>Quantitative Data File for Ore Minerals\u003C\u002Fi>. Springer Netherlands. p.1-635. \u003Ca target='_blank' href='https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1007\u002F978-94-011-1486-8_1'>doi:10.1007\u002F978-94-011-1486-8_1\u003C\u002Fa>","10.1007\u002F978-94-011-1486-8_1",{"id":259,"year":260,"html":261,"doi":262},149386,2002,"Frost, R. L., Martens, W. N., Kloprogge, J. T. (2002) Raman spectroscopic study of cinnabar (HgS), realgar (As\u003CSUB>4\u003C\u002FSUB>S\u003CSUB>4\u003C\u002FSUB>), and orpiment (As\u003CSUB>2\u003C\u002FSUB>S\u003CSUB>3\u003C\u002FSUB>) at 298 and 77K. \u003Ci>Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Monatshefte\u003C\u002Fi>,  2002 (10) 469-480 \u003Ca target='_blank' href='https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1127\u002F0028-3649\u002F2002\u002F2002-0469'>doi:10.1127\u002F0028-3649\u002F2002\u002F2002-0469\u003C\u002Fa>","10.1127\u002F0028-3649\u002F2002\u002F2002-0469",{"id":264,"year":265,"html":266,"doi":11},16119440,2005,"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.",{"id":268,"year":265,"html":269,"doi":11},16966942,"(2005) Realgar. \u003Ci>Handbook of Mineralogy\u003C\u002Fi>. Mineralogical Society of America \u003Ca target='_blank' href='https:\u002F\u002Fwww.handbookofmineralogy.org\u002Fpdfs\u002Frealgar.pdf' class='refpdflink'>\u003C\u002Fa>",{"id":271,"year":272,"html":273,"doi":11},15936928,2006,"Bonazzi, P., Bindi, L., Pratesi, G., and Menchetti, S. (2006) Light-induced changes in molecular arsenic sulfides: state of the art and new evidence by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. American Mineralogist, 91, 1323-1330",{"id":275,"year":272,"html":276,"doi":11},16119441,"Ballirano, P., Maras, A. (2006) In-situ X-ray transmission powder diffraction study of the kinetics of the light induced alteration of realgar (alpha-As4S4). European Journal of Mineralogy: 18: 589–599.",{"id":278,"year":279,"html":280,"doi":11},16119443,2007,"Naumov, P., Makreski, P., Jovanovski, G. (2007) Direct atomic scale observations of linkage isomerization of As4S4 clusters during the photoinduced transition of realgar to pararealgar. Inorganic Chemistry: 46: 10624-10631.",{"id":282,"year":283,"html":284,"doi":285},116957,2008,"Bonazzi, Paola, Bindi, Luca (2008) A crystallographic review of arsenic sulfides: effects of chemical variations and changes induced by exposure to light. \u003Ci>Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials\u003C\u002Fi>,  223 (1). 132-147 \u003Ca target='_blank' href='https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1524\u002Fzkri.2008.0011'>doi:10.1524\u002Fzkri.2008.0011\u003C\u002Fa>","10.1524\u002Fzkri.2008.0011",{"id":287,"year":288,"html":289,"doi":11},16121632,2009,"Kyono, A. (2009) Molecular conformation and anion configuration variations for As4S4 and As4Se4 in an anion-substituted solid solution. American Mineralogist: 94: 451-460.",{"id":291,"year":292,"html":293,"doi":294},397061,2012,"Ballirano, P. (2012) Thermal behavior of realgar As4S4, and of arsenolite As2O3 and non-stoichiometric As8S8+x crystals produced from As4S4 melt recrystallization. \u003Ci>American Mineralogist\u003C\u002Fi>,  97 (8) 1320-1329 \u003Ca target='_blank' href='https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.2138\u002Fam.2012.4114'>doi:10.2138\u002Fam.2012.4114\u003C\u002Fa>","10.2138\u002Fam.2012.4114",{"id":296,"year":297,"html":298,"doi":11},16099718,2015,"Pratesi, G., Zoppi, M. (2015) An insight into the inverse transformation of realgar altered by light. American Mineralogist: 100: 1222-1229.",{"id":300,"year":301,"html":302,"doi":11},16119444,2020,"Jovanovski, G. and Makreski, P. (2020) Intriguing minerals: photoinduced solid-state transition of realgar to pararealgar—direct atomic scale observation and visualization. ChemTexts, 6(1), 1-14.",{"id":304,"year":305,"html":306,"doi":307},16629354,2023,"Banaru, D. A., Aksenov, S. M., Yamnova, N. A., Banaru, A. M. (2023) Structural Complexity of Molecular, Chain, and Layered Crystal Structures of Natural and Synthetic Arsenic Sulfides. \u003Ci>Crystallography Reports\u003C\u002Fi>,  68 (2). 223-236 \u003Ca target='_blank' href='https:\u002F\u002Fdoi.org\u002F10.1134\u002Fs1063774523020037'>doi:10.1134\u002Fs1063774523020037\u003C\u002Fa>","10.1134\u002Fs1063774523020037",[309,317,326,336,345,352,359,366,376,383,390,400,410,419,426,432,439,444,453,461,468,475,483,493,501,507,513,520,527,535,543,550,559],{"id":310,"source_url":311,"license_code":312,"credit_html":313,"title":7,"description":11,"author":314,"original_width":315,"original_height":316},30593,"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.esbirky.cz\u002Fdetail\u002F194368","CC BY 4.0","Photo: #PredmetAutorFoto:194368 — http:\u002F\u002Fcreativecommons.org\u002Flicenses\u002Fby\u002F4.0\u002F, courtesy of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.esbirky.cz\u002Fdetail\u002F194368\" rel=\"noopener\">National Museum - Natural History Museum\u003C\u002Fa> via Europeana","#PredmetAutorFoto:194368",650,488,{"id":318,"source_url":319,"license_code":320,"credit_html":321,"title":322,"description":323,"author":324,"original_width":315,"original_height":325},76459,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=791010","CC BY-SA 3.0","No machine-readable author provided. Kluka assumed (based on copyright claims)., via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=791010\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Realgar, 1Rumunia1, Baia Sprie.jpg","realgar, pochodzenie Rumunia, Baia Sprie","No machine-readable author provided. Kluka assumed (based on copyright claims).",487,{"id":327,"source_url":328,"license_code":329,"credit_html":330,"title":331,"description":332,"author":333,"original_width":334,"original_height":335},20642,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=164785032","CC BY 2.0","James St. John, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=164785032\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Realgar (Shimen Mine, Hunan Province, China) 2.jpg","Realgar from China. (Wayne State University collection, Detroit, Michigan, USA\n\u003Cp>A mineral is a naturally-occurring, solid, inorganic, crystalline substance having a fairly definite chemical composition and having fairly definite physical properties.  At its simplest, a mineral is a naturally-occurring solid chemical.  Currently, there are over 6100 named and described minerals - about 200 of them are common and about 20 of them are very common.  Mineral classification is based on anion chemistry.  Major categories of minerals are: elements, sulfides, oxides, halides, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, and silicates.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>The sulfide minerals contain one or more sulfide anions (S-2).  The sulfides are usually considered together with the arsenide minerals, the sulfarsenide minerals, and the telluride minerals.  Many sulfides are economically significant, as they occur commonly in ores.  The metals that combine with S-2 are mainly Fe, Cu, Ni, Ag, etc.  Most sulfides have a metallic luster, are moderately soft, and are noticeably heavy for their size.  These minerals will not form in the presence of free oxygen.  Under an oxygen-rich atmosphere, sulfide minerals tend to chemically weather to various oxide and hydroxide minerals.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Realgar is an arsenic sulfide mineral, AsS.  It is usually associated with orpiment, which is yellowish-colored arsenic sulfide, As2S3.  Arsenic is a rare element in Earth’s crust, but because As has very few uses in modern society, it has practically no value.  Realgar has a nonmetallic luster, a reddish to reddish-orange color, and is soft (H = 2 on the Mohs Hardness Scale).  Orpiment and realgar are fairly insoluble, but they do volatilize readily.  When heated, they release a garlic smell (arsenic).  Realgar tends to alter to orpiment when exposed at Earth's surface.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>The spectacular crystalline realgar shown above is from the Shimen Mine in Hunan, China.  This mine produces the best known realgar specimens on Earth.  Vug-lining, macrocrystalline realgar is encountered only occasionally at the mine, which targets massive realgar.  This toxic, arsenic-bearing mineral is used in traditional Chinese medicine (see: jpet.aspetjournals.org\u002Farticle\u002FS0022-3565(24)34530-6\u002Fabstract).  Shimen Mine realgar occurs in a pipe-shaped body of cryptoexplosion breccia hosted in structurally tilted, Lower Ordovician sedimentary rocks (dolostone, limestone, marlstone, claystone).\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Locality: Shimen Mine (a.k.a. Jiepaiyu Mine), near the village of Jiepaiyu, west-northwest of Shimen, Shimen County, Changde Prefecture, far-northern Hunan Province, south-central China.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Cp>Photo gallery of realgar:\nwww.mindat.org\u002Fgallery.php?min=3375\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Cp>Site-specific info. from:\n\u003C\u002Fp>\nWilson (2007) - The Shimen Mine, Jiepaiyu, Shimen County, Hunan Province, China.  Mineralogical Record 38: 43-53.","James St. John",1857,2664,{"id":337,"source_url":338,"license_code":320,"credit_html":339,"title":340,"description":341,"author":342,"original_width":343,"original_height":344},76461,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=10163564","Robert M. Lavinsky, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=10163564\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Realgar-229713.jpg","\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FRealgar\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Realgar\">Realgar\u003C\u002Fa>\n\u003Cdl>\u003Cdd>\u003Cdl>\u003Cdd>Locality: Royal Reward Mine, Green River Gorge, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FFranklin\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Franklin\">Franklin\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FKing_County,_Washington\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:King County, Washington\">King County\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FWashington\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Washington\">Washington\u003C\u002Fa>, USA (\u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mindat.org\u002Floc-4215.html\">Locality at mindat.org\u003C\u002Fa>)\u003C\u002Fdd>\n\u003Cdd>Size: 2.2 x 1.1 x 0.8 cm.\u003C\u002Fdd>\n\u003Cdd>An aesthetic cluster of gemmy, bright, cherry-red realgar crystals nicely attached to a bit of matrix. This piece is from the less well-known Royal Reward Mine of Washington. The specimen probably dates to the 1970s. Ex. Jaime Bird Collection.\u003C\u002Fdd>\u003C\u002Fdl>\u003C\u002Fdd>\u003C\u002Fdl>","Robert M. Lavinsky",469,600,{"id":346,"source_url":347,"license_code":329,"credit_html":348,"title":349,"description":332,"author":333,"original_width":350,"original_height":351},20643,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=164785034","James St. John, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=164785034\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Realgar (Shimen Mine, Hunan Province, China) 3.jpg",2179,3458,{"id":353,"source_url":354,"license_code":329,"credit_html":355,"title":356,"description":332,"author":333,"original_width":357,"original_height":358},20644,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=164785035","James St. John, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=164785035\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Realgar (Shimen Mine, Hunan Province, China) 1.jpg",1983,3331,{"id":360,"source_url":361,"license_code":329,"credit_html":362,"title":363,"description":332,"author":333,"original_width":364,"original_height":365},20645,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=164785037","James St. John, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=164785037\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Realgar (Shimen Mine, Hunan Province, China) 4.jpg",1869,2760,{"id":367,"source_url":368,"license_code":369,"credit_html":370,"title":371,"description":372,"author":373,"original_width":374,"original_height":375},76470,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=113749609","CC BY-SA 4.0","Koreller, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=113749609\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Muséum de Nantes - 520 - Réalgar (États-Unis).jpg","Réalgar, en provenance des États-Unis, au Muséum de Nantes","Koreller",3376,2812,{"id":377,"source_url":378,"license_code":320,"credit_html":379,"title":380,"description":381,"author":342,"original_width":382,"original_height":344},20638,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=10125968","Robert M. Lavinsky, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=10125968\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Realgar-Calcite-37467.jpg","\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FRealgar\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Realgar\">Realgar\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FCalcite\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Calcite\">Calcite\u003C\u002Fa>\n\u003Cdl>\u003Cdd>\u003Cdl>\u003Cdd>Locality: Jiepaiyu Mine (Shimen Mine), Shimen As-(Au) deposit, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FShimen_County\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Shimen County\">Shimen County\u003C\u002Fa>, Changde Prefecture, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FHunan\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Hunan\">Hunan Province\u003C\u002Fa>, China (\u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mindat.org\u002Floc-708.html\">Locality at mindat.org\u003C\u002Fa>)\u003C\u002Fdd>\n\u003Cdd>This has to be one of the best such combo pieces out there, of this rare and exciting combination . These were ound in the early 1990s, as China was just opening up and specimen collection and preparation just beginning to get good. Sadly, what this means is that most such pieces were damaged or destroyed due to improper, ungentle handling or packing. This spectacular display piece, however, is nearly as pristine as can be and despite its size has no distracting issues at all. It glows with rich red color, more so in person> The contrast, though, is wha tmakes the piece so special it was chosen as a Cover piece for the CHINA issue of this journal. BETTER IN PERSON. 9 x 5.9 x 4.2 cm\u003C\u002Fdd>\u003C\u002Fdl>\u003C\u002Fdd>\u003C\u002Fdl>",506,{"id":384,"source_url":385,"license_code":320,"credit_html":386,"title":387,"description":388,"author":342,"original_width":389,"original_height":344},20639,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=10141674","Robert M. Lavinsky, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=10141674\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Realgar-Orpiment-132229.jpg","\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FRealgar\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Realgar\">Realgar\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FOrpiment\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Orpiment\">Orpiment\u003C\u002Fa>\n\u003Cdl>\u003Cdd>\u003Cdl>\u003Cdd>Locality: Palomo Mine, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FCastrovirreyna_Province\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Castrovirreyna Province\">Castrovirreyna Province\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FHuancavelica_Region\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Huancavelica Region\">Huancavelica Department\u003C\u002Fa>, Peru (\u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mindat.org\u002Floc-65058.html\">Locality at mindat.org\u003C\u002Fa>)\u003C\u002Fdd>\n\u003Cdd>Size: 4.3 x 2.3 x 1.1 cm.\u003C\u002Fdd>\n\u003Cdd>A scarce specimen of Peruvian realgar with fine, pretty crystals of unusual form, with minor association of yellow orpiment. These are both arsenic sulfide, and in fact most manifestations of realgar degrade to orpiment over time. Orpiments are not uncommon from Peru, of course, but good realgars are. The combo is striking, and I saw only one small find of this at Denver. Under strong light, this specimen lights up an INTENSE red color.\u003C\u002Fdd>\u003C\u002Fdl>\u003C\u002Fdd>\u003C\u002Fdl>",370,{"id":391,"source_url":392,"license_code":393,"credit_html":394,"title":395,"description":396,"author":397,"original_width":398,"original_height":399},76460,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=6351791","Public domain","Parent Géry PARENT, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=6351791\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Orpiment, realgar.jpg","orpiment, realgar : Getchell Mine (North Pit ; Center Pit ; South Pit), Adam Peak,, Potosi District, Osgood Mts, Humboldt Co., Nevada, USA","Parent Géry PARENT",4288,2848,{"id":401,"source_url":402,"license_code":403,"credit_html":404,"title":405,"description":406,"author":407,"original_width":408,"original_height":409},20641,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=149013776","CC0 1.0","Darla Sondrol, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=149013776\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Orpiment with realgar, University of North Dakota Mineralogy Collection.jpg","A mixture of orpiment and realgar, which are commonly found together","Darla Sondrol",1834,1352,{"id":411,"source_url":412,"license_code":320,"credit_html":413,"title":414,"description":415,"author":416,"original_width":417,"original_height":418},76462,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=17574994","Géry PARENT, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=17574994\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Realgar, galena, pyrite, sphalerite, quartz, orpiment.jpg","realgar, galena, pyrite, sphalerite, quartz, orpiment : Palomo Mine, Castrovirreyna Province, Huancavelica Department, Perù","Géry PARENT",3883,2784,{"id":420,"source_url":421,"license_code":320,"credit_html":422,"title":423,"description":424,"author":425,"original_width":398,"original_height":399},76463,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=22073148","Parent Géry, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=22073148\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Réalgar, tétrahédrite, orpiment, quartz 1.JPG","realgar, tetrahedrite, galena, orpiment, quartz : Palomo Mine, Castrovirreyna Province, Huancavelica Department, Perù","Parent Géry",{"id":427,"source_url":428,"license_code":320,"credit_html":429,"title":430,"description":431,"author":425,"original_width":398,"original_height":399},76464,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=22073149","Parent Géry, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=22073149\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Réalgar, tétrahédrite, orpiment.JPG","realgar, tetrahedrite, galena, orpiment : Palomo Mine, Castrovirreyna Province, Huancavelica Department, Perù",{"id":433,"source_url":434,"license_code":320,"credit_html":435,"title":436,"description":424,"author":425,"original_width":437,"original_height":438},35951,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=22073151","Parent Géry, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=22073151\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Réalgar, tétrahédrite, orpiment, quartz 3.JPG",4192,2690,{"id":440,"source_url":441,"license_code":320,"credit_html":442,"title":443,"description":424,"author":425,"original_width":398,"original_height":399},76465,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=22073152","Parent Géry, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=22073152\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Réalgar, tétrahédrite, orpiment, quartz 2.JPG",{"id":445,"source_url":446,"license_code":320,"credit_html":447,"title":448,"description":449,"author":450,"original_width":451,"original_height":452},76466,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=33033062","Rojinegro81, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=33033062\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Oropimente+Rejalgar.JPG","Oropimente y Rejalgar.","Rojinegro81",4608,3456,{"id":454,"source_url":455,"license_code":369,"credit_html":456,"title":457,"description":458,"author":416,"original_width":459,"original_height":460},71891,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=35096394","Géry PARENT, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=35096394\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Orpiment, réalgar, barytine, calcite 300.4.FS2014.jpg","orpiment, realgar, baryte, calciite : Quiruvilca Mine, Distrito Quiruvilca, Departamento La Libertad,  Perù",1996,1331,{"id":462,"source_url":463,"license_code":369,"credit_html":464,"title":465,"description":466,"author":416,"original_width":265,"original_height":467},76467,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=35096395","Géry PARENT, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=35096395\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Orpiment, réalgar, calcite 300.4.FS2014 1.jpg","orpiment, realgar, calcite : Quiruvilca Mine, Distrito Quiruvilca, Departamento La Libertad,  Perù",1324,{"id":469,"source_url":470,"license_code":369,"credit_html":471,"title":472,"description":466,"author":416,"original_width":473,"original_height":474},76468,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=35096396","Géry PARENT, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=35096396\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Orpiment, réalgar, calcite 300.4.FS2014.jpg",1994,1559,{"id":476,"source_url":477,"license_code":369,"credit_html":478,"title":479,"description":480,"author":416,"original_width":481,"original_height":482},76469,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=61389971","Géry PARENT, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=61389971\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Orpiment, baryte, calcite, realgar 1.jpg","orpiment, baryte, calcite, realgar : Quiruvilca Mine (La Libertad Mine ; ASARCO Mine), Quiruvilca District,  Santiago de Chuco Province, La Libertad Department,  Perù",1981,1316,{"id":484,"source_url":485,"license_code":486,"credit_html":487,"title":488,"description":489,"author":490,"original_width":491,"original_height":492},13789,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=118197751","CC BY-SA 2.0","Pacific Museum of Earth from Canada, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=118197751\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Kurnakovite with Realgar and Orpiment Inclusions (48603452901).jpg","\u003Cp>Boron\n\u003C\u002Fp>\nCalifornia, USA","Pacific Museum of Earth from Canada",6000,4000,{"id":494,"source_url":495,"license_code":320,"credit_html":496,"title":497,"description":498,"author":342,"original_width":499,"original_height":500},14738,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=38263960","Robert M. Lavinsky, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=38263960\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Lorandite, Realgar-468096.jpg","\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FLorandite\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Lorandite\">Lorandite\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FRealgar\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Realgar\">Realgar\u003C\u002Fa>\n\u003Cdl>\u003Cdd>\u003Cdl>\u003Cdd>Locality: Allchar (Alsar), Roszdan, Republic of Macedonia (\u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mindat.org\u002Floc-2245.html\">Locality at mindat.org\u003C\u002Fa>)\u003C\u002Fdd>\n\u003Cdd>Size: miniature, 2.5 cm x 2 cm x 1.3 cm\u003C\u002Fdd>\n\u003Cdd>Lorandite is a rare thallium-arsenide and this excellent combination thumbnail hails from the Type Locality in Macedonia. Two, adjacent, sharp, dark cherry-red lorandite crystals to 3 mm are well-placed on the matrix covered with lustrous, translucent, orange-red realgar prisms. This old-time specimen dates to before 1905, when George English sold his business. Ex. University of Arizona Collection.\u003C\u002Fdd>\u003C\u002Fdl>\u003C\u002Fdd>\u003C\u002Fdl>",465,354,{"id":502,"source_url":503,"license_code":320,"credit_html":504,"title":505,"description":498,"author":342,"original_width":499,"original_height":506},14739,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=38263961","Robert M. Lavinsky, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=38263961\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Lorandite, Realgar-468097.jpg",542,{"id":508,"source_url":509,"license_code":320,"credit_html":510,"title":511,"description":498,"author":342,"original_width":499,"original_height":512},14740,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=38263962","Robert M. Lavinsky, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=38263962\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Lorandite, Realgar-468098.jpg",401,{"id":514,"source_url":515,"license_code":320,"credit_html":516,"title":517,"description":518,"author":342,"original_width":519,"original_height":344},19215,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=10138788","Robert M. Lavinsky, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=10138788\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Realgar-Picropharmacolite-117490.jpg","\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FRealgar\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Realgar\">Realgar\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FPicropharmacolite\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Picropharmacolite\">Picropharmacolite\u003C\u002Fa>\n\u003Cdl>\u003Cdd>\u003Cdl>\u003Cdd>Locality: Jiepaiyu Mine (Shimen Mine), Shimen As-(Au) deposit, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FShimen_County\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Shimen County\">Shimen County\u003C\u002Fa>, Changde Prefecture, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FHunan\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Hunan\">Hunan Province\u003C\u002Fa>, China (\u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mindat.org\u002Floc-708.html\">Locality at mindat.org\u003C\u002Fa>)\u003C\u002Fdd>\n\u003Cdd>Size: 3.5 x 2.9 x 2.0 cm.\u003C\u002Fdd>\n\u003Cdd>A cute miniature\u002Ftoenail with a spray of two 1-cm-plus cherry-red realgar crystals atop a matrix, and a sharp acicular spray of the rare species picropharmacolite (white needles) below. There is nothing like these, for deep red color! Old find, though the pharmacolite was only recently realized to be such.\u003C\u002Fdd>\u003C\u002Fdl>\u003C\u002Fdd>\u003C\u002Fdl>",525,{"id":521,"source_url":522,"license_code":320,"credit_html":523,"title":524,"description":525,"author":342,"original_width":344,"original_height":526},19411,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=10138743","Robert M. Lavinsky, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=10138743\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Realgar-Picropharmacolite-114514.jpg","\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FRealgar\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Realgar\">Realgar\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FPicropharmacolite\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Picropharmacolite\">Picropharmacolite\u003C\u002Fa>\n\u003Cdl>\u003Cdd>\u003Cdl>\u003Cdd>Locality: Jiepaiyu Mine (Shimen Mine), Shimen As-(Au) deposit, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FShimen_County\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Shimen County\">Shimen County\u003C\u002Fa>, Changde Prefecture, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FHunan\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Hunan\">Hunan Province\u003C\u002Fa>, China (\u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mindat.org\u002Floc-708.html\">Locality at mindat.org\u003C\u002Fa>)\u003C\u002Fdd>\n\u003Cdd>Size: 8.3 x 4.2 x 3.2 cm.\u003C\u002Fdd>\n\u003Cdd>There is hardly any match in the mineral kingdom for the intense cherry red of Chinese realgars. They also have an almost wet-looking luster and gemminess that add to the appeal. Two notes about these: they are very light-sensitive, so do not keep them in the light - and, they are poisonous due to the arsenic content (they are a sulfide of arsenic), so even though they look good enough to eat - it is a very bad idea!\u003C\u002Fdd>\u003C\u002Fdl>\u003C\u002Fdd>\u003C\u002Fdl>",360,{"id":528,"source_url":529,"license_code":329,"credit_html":530,"title":531,"description":532,"author":333,"original_width":533,"original_height":534},72663,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=41901712","James St. John, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=41901712\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Realgar-pararealgar-orpiment (18906699425).jpg","\u003Cp>Realgar crystals (reddish-orange) with a little pararealgar (AsS, orangish-yellow) and a little orpiment (yellow). (field of view ~2.6 cm across)\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>A mineral is a naturally-occurring, solid, inorganic, crystalline substance having a fairly definite chemical composition and having fairly definite physical properties.  At its simplest, a mineral is a naturally-occurring solid chemical.  Currently, there are over 4900 named and described minerals - about 200 of them are common and about 20 of them are very common.  Mineral classification is based on anion chemistry.  Major categories of minerals are: elements, sulfides, oxides, halides, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, and silicates.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>The sulfide minerals contain one or more sulfide anions (S-2).  The sulfides are usually considered together with the arsenide minerals, the sulfarsenide minerals, and the telluride minerals.  Many sulfides are economically significant, as they occur commonly in ores.  The metals that combine with S-2 are mainly Fe, Cu, Ni, Ag, etc.  Most sulfides have a metallic luster, are moderately soft, and are noticeably heavy for their size.  These minerals will not form in the presence of free oxygen.  Under an oxygen-rich atmosphere, sulfide minerals tend to chemically weather to various oxide and hydroxide minerals.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Realgar and orpiment are both arsenic sulfides.  Realgar is an intensely reddish-orangish arsenic sulfide (AsS), while orpiment is a bright yellow-colored arsenic sulfide (As2S3).  They are always associated with each other.  Arsenic is a rare element in Earth’s crust, but because As has very few uses in modern society, it has practically no value.  Orpiment & realgar have a nonmetallic luster and are fairly soft (H=1 for yellow orpiment & H=2 for reddish-orange realgar).  The two minerals are fairly insoluble, but they do volatilize readily.  When heated, they release a garlic smell (arsenic).  Realgar tends to alter to orpiment when exposed at Earth's surface.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Cp>Photo gallery of realgar:\n\u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mindat.org\u002Fgallery.php?min=3375\">www.mindat.org\u002Fgallery.php?min=3375\u003C\u002Fa>\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Cp>Photo gallery of orpiment:\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mindat.org\u002Fgallery.php?min=3021\">www.mindat.org\u002Fgallery.php?min=3021\u003C\u002Fa>",777,662,{"id":536,"source_url":537,"license_code":329,"credit_html":538,"title":539,"description":540,"author":333,"original_width":541,"original_height":542},72664,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=41901716","James St. John, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=41901716\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Realgar & pararealgar & calcite on marble (Middle Eocene mineralization, 39 Ma; Getchell Mine, northern Osgood Mountains, northern Nevada, USA) 1 (18719248190).jpg","\u003Cp>Realgar (red) and pararealgar (orange & yellow) and calcite crystals on marble from Nevada, USA. (14.2 cm across at its widest)\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>A mineral is a naturally-occurring, solid, inorganic, crystalline substance having a fairly definite chemical composition and having fairly definite physical properties.  At its simplest, a mineral is a naturally-occurring solid chemical.  Currently, there are over 4900 named and described minerals - about 200 of them are common and about 20 of them are very common.  Mineral classification is based on anion chemistry.  Major categories of minerals are: elements, sulfides, oxides, halides, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, and silicates.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>The sulfide minerals contain one or more sulfide anions (S-2).  The sulfides are usually considered together with the arsenide minerals, the sulfarsenide minerals, and the telluride minerals.  Many sulfides are economically significant, as they occur commonly in ores.  The metals that combine with S-2 are mainly Fe, Cu, Ni, Ag, etc.  Most sulfides have a metallic luster, are moderately soft, and are noticeably heavy for their size.  These minerals will not form in the presence of free oxygen.  Under an oxygen-rich atmosphere, sulfide minerals tend to chemically weather to various oxide and hydroxide minerals.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Realgar and orpiment are both arsenic sulfides.  Realgar is an intensely reddish-orangish arsenic sulfide (AsS), while orpiment is a bright yellow-colored arsenic sulfide (As2S3).  They are always associated with each other.  Arsenic is a rare element in Earth’s crust, but because As has very few uses in modern society, it has practically no value.  Orpiment & realgar have a nonmetallic luster and are fairly soft (H=1 for yellow orpiment & H=2 for reddish-orange realgar).  The two minerals are fairly insoluble, but they do volatilize readily.  When heated, they release a garlic smell (arsenic).  Realgar tends to alter to orpiment when exposed at Earth's surface.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>One of the prettiest rocks I’ve ever seen is this specimen from the Getchell Mine of northern Nevada, USA.  The rock itself (gray portion) is marble.  The large whitish gray crystals at right and right-center and top are calcite (CaCO3 - calcium carbonate).  The red crystals are realgar (AsS; a.k.a. As4S4 - arsenic sulfide).  The yellowish and orangish areas are pararealgar, which has the same chemical formula as realgar.  Realgar is unstable when exposed to light, so all the orangish-yellowish pararealgar you see in the rock used to be red realgar.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Geology - Cambrian-aged Preble Formation limestone, contact metamorphosed into marble by the Cretaceous-aged Osgood Granodiorite Stock.  During the late Middle Eocene, at 39 million years ago, the rock was subjected to Carlin-type mineralization by fluids moving along the Getchell Fault (a major normal fault formed during Basin & Range extensional tectonics).  The mineralization event precipitated the calcite and the realgar (plus a teeny-tiny amount of disseminated gold, but not enough to make this sample a gold ore).\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Locality: 4950-194 stope of the Getchell Mine, northern end of the Osgood Mountains, eastern Humboldt County, northern Nevada, USA\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Cp>Photo gallery of realgar:\n\u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mindat.org\u002Fgallery.php?min=3375\">www.mindat.org\u002Fgallery.php?min=3375\u003C\u002Fa>\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Cp>Photo gallery of orpiment:\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mindat.org\u002Fgallery.php?min=3021\">www.mindat.org\u002Fgallery.php?min=3021\u003C\u002Fa>",2536,1954,{"id":544,"source_url":545,"license_code":329,"credit_html":546,"title":547,"description":548,"author":333,"original_width":418,"original_height":549},72665,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=41901730","James St. John, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=41901730\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Realgar & pararealgar & calcite on marble (Middle Eocene mineralization, 39 Ma; Getchell Mine, northern Osgood Mountains, northern Nevada, USA) 2 (18909791261).jpg","\u003Cp>Realgar (red) and calcite (grayish-whitish) from Nevada, USA. (field of view ~3.5 cm across)\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>A mineral is a naturally-occurring, solid, inorganic, crystalline substance having a fairly definite chemical composition and having fairly definite physical properties.  At its simplest, a mineral is a naturally-occurring solid chemical.  Currently, there are over 4900 named and described minerals - about 200 of them are common and about 20 of them are very common.  Mineral classification is based on anion chemistry.  Major categories of minerals are: elements, sulfides, oxides, halides, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, and silicates.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>The sulfide minerals contain one or more sulfide anions (S-2).  The sulfides are usually considered together with the arsenide minerals, the sulfarsenide minerals, and the telluride minerals.  Many sulfides are economically significant, as they occur commonly in ores.  The metals that combine with S-2 are mainly Fe, Cu, Ni, Ag, etc.  Most sulfides have a metallic luster, are moderately soft, and are noticeably heavy for their size.  These minerals will not form in the presence of free oxygen.  Under an oxygen-rich atmosphere, sulfide minerals tend to chemically weather to various oxide and hydroxide minerals.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Realgar and orpiment are both arsenic sulfides.  Realgar is an intensely reddish-orangish arsenic sulfide (AsS), while orpiment is a bright yellow-colored arsenic sulfide (As2S3).  They are always associated with each other.  Arsenic is a rare element in Earth’s crust, but because As has very few uses in modern society, it has practically no value.  Orpiment & realgar have a nonmetallic luster and are fairly soft (H=1 for yellow orpiment & H=2 for reddish-orange realgar).  The two minerals are fairly insoluble, but they do volatilize readily.  When heated, they release a garlic smell (arsenic).  Realgar tends to alter to orpiment when exposed at Earth's surface.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>One of the prettiest specimens I’ve ever seen is this specimen from the Getchell Mine of northern Nevada, USA.  The whitish gray crystals are calcite (CaCO3 - calcium carbonate).  The red crystals are realgar (AsS; a.k.a. As4S4 - arsenic sulfide).  The small specks of yellowish and orangish areas are pararealgar, which has the same chemical formula as realgar.  Realgar is unstable when exposed to light, so the orangish-yellowish pararealgar you see in this specimen used to be red realgar.\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Geology - Cambrian-aged Preble Formation limestone, contact metamorphosed into marble by the Cretaceous-aged Osgood Granodiorite Stock.  During the late Middle Eocene, at 39 million years ago, the rock was subjected to Carlin-type mineralization by fluids moving along the Getchell Fault (a major normal fault formed during Basin & Range extensional tectonics).  The mineralization event precipitated calcite and realgar on the marble (plus a teeny-tiny amount of disseminated gold, but not enough to make this sample a gold ore).\n\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Locality: 4950-194 stope of the Getchell Mine, northern end of the Osgood Mountains, eastern Humboldt County, northern Nevada, USA\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Cp>Photo gallery of realgar:\n\u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mindat.org\u002Fgallery.php?min=3375\">www.mindat.org\u002Fgallery.php?min=3375\u003C\u002Fa>\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Chr>\n\u003Cp>Photo gallery of orpiment:\n\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mindat.org\u002Fgallery.php?min=3021\">www.mindat.org\u002Fgallery.php?min=3021\u003C\u002Fa>",1917,{"id":551,"source_url":552,"license_code":369,"credit_html":553,"title":554,"description":555,"author":556,"original_width":557,"original_height":558},72666,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=81656850","Kaarel Tiidus, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=81656850\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Estonian Museum of Natural History Specimen No 201705 photo (g27 g27-37 jpg).jpg","Bright red translucent crystals of realgar covered by pararealagar coating. Realgar alters into pararealgar under expose to sunlight. More info \u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fgeocollections.info\u002Ffile\u002F61869\">about this file\u003C\u002Fa> and \u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fgeocollections.info\u002Fspecimen\u002F201705\">about this specimen\u003C\u002Fa> at \u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fgeocollections.info\u002F\">geocollections.info\u003C\u002Fa>","Kaarel Tiidus",3888,2592,{"id":560,"source_url":561,"license_code":320,"credit_html":562,"title":563,"description":564,"author":342,"original_width":344,"original_height":565},78233,"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=10164091","Robert M. Lavinsky, via \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcommons.wikimedia.org\u002F?curid=10164091\" rel=\"noopener\">Wikimedia Commons\u003C\u002Fa>","Sartorite-Realgar-232895.jpg","\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FSartorite\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Sartorite\">Sartorite\u003C\u002Fa>, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FRealgar\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Realgar\">Realgar\u003C\u002Fa>\n\u003Cdl>\u003Cdd>\u003Cdl>\u003Cdd>Locality: \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FLengenbach_Quarry\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Lengenbach Quarry\">Lengenbach Quarry\u003C\u002Fa>, Im Feld (Imfeld; Feld; Fäld), Binn Valley, \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FWallis\" class=\"extiw\" title=\"en:Wallis\">Wallis (Valais)\u003C\u002Fa>, Switzerland (\u003Ca rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"external text\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.mindat.org\u002Floc-3207.html\">Locality at mindat.org\u003C\u002Fa>)\u003C\u002Fdd>\n\u003Cdd>Size: 5.3 x 4.7 x 2.6 cm.\u003C\u002Fdd>\n\u003Cdd>Discovered in this quarry in the late 1800s, sartorite remains a very rare species today. It is a lead arsenic sulfide. The best crystals are from this locale. This sharp 7.5mm crystal is associated with brilliant red realgar, both protected in a shallow vug in soft marble matrix. Ex. Bill Pinch Collection.\u003C\u002Fdd>\u003C\u002Fdl>\u003C\u002Fdd>\u003C\u002Fdl>",590,[567,573,577,582,587],{"id":568,"url":569,"label":570,"formula":571,"spacegroup":572,"year":292},11940,"\u002Fcif\u002F11940.cif","Hejny 2012","As S","P 1 21\u002Fn 1",{"id":574,"url":575,"label":576,"formula":571,"spacegroup":572,"year":288},11948,"\u002Fcif\u002F11948.cif","Kyono 2009 · As S",{"id":578,"url":579,"label":580,"formula":581,"spacegroup":572,"year":288},11952,"\u002Fcif\u002F11952.cif","Kyono 2009 · As (S.663 Se.338)","As (S.663 Se.338)",{"id":583,"url":584,"label":585,"formula":586,"spacegroup":572,"year":288},11953,"\u002Fcif\u002F11953.cif","Kyono 2009 · As (S.495 Se.505)","As (S.495 Se.505)",{"id":588,"url":589,"label":590,"formula":591,"spacegroup":572,"year":288},11954,"\u002Fcif\u002F11954.cif","Kyono 2009 · As (S.608 Se.392)","As (S.608 Se.392)",[593,594,595,596,597,598,599,600,601,602,603,604,605,606,607],"Arsenic Rouge","Eolit","Eolita","Eolite","Realgarit","Realgarita","Realgarite","Red Arsenic","Red Orpiment","Risigallo","Risigallum","Ruby Sulfur","Ruby Sulphur","Sandaracha","Σανδαράκη",[609,612,619,623,627,631,635,639,646,650,654,658,662,669,673,679,683,686,690,694,698,706,711,715,719,723,726,729,732,736,739,743,746,750,754,758,762,766,769,774,777,780,783,787,791,794,798,802,808,811,814,818,821,824,827,831,841,844,847,851,854,857],{"lang":610,"names":611},"an",[7],{"lang":613,"names":614},"ar",[615,616,617,618],"الزرنيخ الأحمر","رهج الغار","ريالغار","🜻",{"lang":620,"names":621},"ast",[622],"Rejalgar",{"lang":624,"names":625},"az",[626],"Realqar",{"lang":628,"names":629},"be",[630],"рэальгар",{"lang":632,"names":633},"ca",[634],"realgar",{"lang":636,"names":637},"cs",[634,638],"zářnek",{"lang":640,"names":641},"de",[642,643,644,7,645],"Arsenrot","Opperment","Rauschrot","Rubinschwefel",{"lang":647,"names":648},"el",[649],"Σανδαράχη",{"lang":651,"names":652},"es",[653],"rejalgar",{"lang":655,"names":656},"et",[657],"realgaar",{"lang":659,"names":660},"eu",[661],"errealgar",{"lang":663,"names":664},"fa",[665,666,616,667,668],"رآلگار","رالگار","رهج‌الغار","زرنیخ سرخ",{"lang":670,"names":671},"fi",[672],"realgaari",{"lang":674,"names":675},"fr",[676,677,678],"As4S4","réalgar","réalgarite",{"lang":680,"names":681},"he",[682],"ריאלגר",{"lang":684,"names":685},"hr",[7],{"lang":687,"names":688},"hu",[689],"realgár",{"lang":691,"names":692},"hy",[693],"Ռեալգար",{"lang":695,"names":696},"io",[697],"Realgaro",{"lang":699,"names":700},"it",[701,634,702,703,704,602,705],"Rahjalgar","Realgar d'orpimento","Risalgallo","Risigale","Sandaraca",{"lang":707,"names":708},"ja",[709,710],"リアルガー","鶏冠石",{"lang":712,"names":713},"ka",[714],"რეალგარი",{"lang":716,"names":717},"kk",[718],"Реальгар",{"lang":720,"names":721},"kk-arab",[722],"رەالگار",{"lang":724,"names":725},"kk-cn",[722],{"lang":727,"names":728},"kk-cyrl",[718],{"lang":730,"names":731},"kk-kz",[718],{"lang":733,"names":734},"kk-latn",[735],"Realʹgar",{"lang":737,"names":738},"kk-tr",[735],{"lang":740,"names":741},"ko",[742],"계관석",{"lang":744,"names":745},"la",[7],{"lang":747,"names":748},"lt",[749],"realgaras",{"lang":751,"names":752},"lzh",[753],"黃",{"lang":755,"names":756},"mk",[757],"реалгар",{"lang":759,"names":760},"ml",[761],"റീയൽഗർ",{"lang":763,"names":764},"mnc",[765],"ᠠᠮᡳᡥᡡᠨ",{"lang":767,"names":768},"nb",[634],{"lang":770,"names":771},"nds",[643,7,772,773],"Rubinswevel","Ruuschroot",{"lang":775,"names":776},"nl",[657,7],{"lang":778,"names":779},"nn",[634],{"lang":781,"names":782},"oc",[7],{"lang":784,"names":785},"pl",[634,786],"rubin arsenowy",{"lang":788,"names":789},"pt",[634,790],"Rosalgar",{"lang":792,"names":793},"ro",[7],{"lang":795,"names":796},"ru",[797],"реальгар",{"lang":799,"names":800},"sk",[801],"Realgár",{"lang":803,"names":804},"sl",[805,634,806,807],"arzenov rubin","rubinasto žveplo","α-As4S4",{"lang":809,"names":810},"sr",[757],{"lang":812,"names":813},"sv",[7],{"lang":815,"names":816},"th",[817],"กำมะถันแดง",{"lang":819,"names":820},"tr",[7],{"lang":822,"names":823},"uk",[797],{"lang":825,"names":826},"uz",[7],{"lang":828,"names":829},"vi",[830],"Hùng hoàng",{"lang":832,"names":833},"zh",[834,835,836,837,838,839,840],"石黃","石黄","雄黄","雞冠石","鸡冠石","黃金石","黄金石",{"lang":842,"names":843},"zh-cn",[836],{"lang":845,"names":846},"zh-hans",[836],{"lang":848,"names":849},"zh-hant",[850],"雄黃",{"lang":852,"names":853},"zh-hk",[850],{"lang":855,"names":856},"zh-sg",[836],{"lang":858,"names":859},"zh-tw",[850],"Q109746",{"history":862,"applications":866},{"markdown":863,"model_version":864,"prompt_version":865,"reviewed_at":11},"The name **realgar** travels a long way for so red a mineral. It comes from the Arabic *rahj al-ġār* — powder of the mine — and reached English through Medieval Latin, with its earliest English record in the 1390s[1].\n\nLong before the name arrived, the substance itself was already in use. Ancient Greek apothecaries compounded a poison from realgar called *bull's blood*[2]. The physician Nicander described a death by bull's blood whose symptoms match arsenic poisoning[2]. The same preparation is the poison said to have ended the lives of Themistocles and Midas[2].\n\nThe mineral travelled as a pigment too. Painters in China, India, Central Asia, and Egypt picked it up early as a red pigment[3]. In the Roman Empire it was traded alongside orpiment, the related yellow arsenic sulfide that often shares its veins[3]. Both minerals were used as paint pigments[3].\n\nIn Chinese tradition realgar is *xiónghuáng*, the \"masculine yellow\", set against orpiment, the \"feminine yellow\"[4]. Chinese carvers also worked the mineral into small ornamental pieces, a use recorded in older mineralogical literature[5].\n\nBy the beginning of the thirteenth century realgar was known as a mineral pigment in Byzantium — essentially Asia Minor and the Balkan Peninsula[6]. It presumably had a name there by that time[6]. An old realgar locality on the Balkan Peninsula sits at Allchar, in the Republic of Macedonia[6].\n\nIn medieval Europe the picture darkens. Realgar was used to poison rats in medieval Spain[7]. It also entered leather processing, where the arsenic stripped the hair from hides[8].\n\nThen Venice. From about 1490, Venetian painters took up realgar as a luminous orange in oil paint[9]. It became a hallmark of the city's Renaissance palette, supplied through the *vendecolori*, the specialist colour-merchants of the lagoon[9]. England in the sixteenth century also used the mineral as a rat poison[7]. Elsewhere in Europe the same uses were rare, and the European pigment trade in realgar died out by the eighteenth century[9].\n\nRealgar carries one peculiar habit that any history has to address: prolonged exposure to light turns it into a yellow powder called **pararealgar** (β-As₄S₄)[10]. For a long time this powder was taken to be orpiment, the yellow sulfide; later analysis showed it to be a distinct chemical compound[10]. Chinese realgar carvings in museum collections deteriorate under light for the same reason[5].","claude-opus-4-7","1.7.0",{"markdown":867,"model_version":864,"prompt_version":865,"reviewed_at":11},"Realgar's place in industry today is narrow, shadowed throughout by the toxicity of arsenic. The mineral is a minor ore of arsenic, extracted in China, Peru, and the Philippines[1]. Recovery of the metal is the main current use to which realgar is put[2].\n\nIn pyrotechnics the mineral is now a marginal ingredient. Where it does appear, realgar contributes to white flame and star compositions, and to the yellow smoke of daytime fireworks[3]. Toxicity and the cost of the mineral keep it out of most modern formulations, where safer chemicals fill the same roles[4].\n\nThe pigment trade has effectively closed. Prolonged exposure to light turns realgar into a yellow powder called pararealgar, a conversion that disintegrates the original orange-red colour[5]. Museums and conservators treat surviving realgar paint and Chinese carvings as light-sensitive objects, displayed under low illumination[6].\n\nBeyond ore extraction, the remaining uses are narrow. Well-formed orange-red crystals are sought by collectors and museums as representatives of the species. Some traditional Chinese preparations also continue to use the powdered mineral in ritualistic cosmetics and folk-medicine contexts, despite the known toxicity of arsenic[7]."]