| Realgar and Orpiment |
| SpiritRock Shop |
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| This is an Old Stock specimen of Realgar from the Getchell Mine in Nevada. We obtained this specimen years ago from Wally Marks at the highway 50&95 Rock Shop in Fallon, Nevada This specimen weighs 0.3lb (132g) and measures 2.9 x 2.3 x 1.3 inches (7.4 x 5.9 x 3.3cm) |
| Item # RGR 11109333 Realgar Getchell Mine, Nevada $65.00 |
| Realgars bright red color can be an location aid to miners. Realgar gets its name from the Arabic words for "powder of the mine" (rahj al ghar). Realgar is famous for some stunningly beautiful specimens. Some specimens can have a deep ruby red color with an amazing clarity and a high luster. Realgar is sometimes called “Ruby Sulfur” by the miners. The color of Realgar is truly something to see and quality specimens on white calcite from The Getchell Mine in Nevada are real treasures! |
Orpiment and Realgar are both arsenic sulfides. Orpiment is a rare orange to lemon-yellow
mineral consisting of a native trisulfide of arsenic and usually forms with Realgar. Realgar and
Orpiment are almost always found together. Realgar is a bright reddish-orange arsenic sulfide.
Crystals of orpiment are extremely rare as it usually forms masses and crusts, and may be
crystallized in bright needles. (Realgar in this form is called ruby of arsenic). The yellow color is
special to orpiment and can be confused only with a few other minerals. These two minerals are
insoluble, but they do volatilize easily when heated. They release a strong garlic smell (arsenic).
Realgar tends to turn to orpiment when exposed to sunlight. Over time, orpiment will deteriorate
into a powder. The process takes a long time, but exposure to light will accelerate it. Specimens
should be stored in dark, enclosed containers.
Both Orpiment and Realgar occur in low temperature hydrothermal veins which are fractures
in rock where hot water precipitated minerals. They may also form in hot spring deposits and
as sublimated gasses emitted from volcanoes.
In earlier days Arsenic was often called the “Poison of Kings” and was almost impossible to
detect, but today, it can be detected with some basic chemical tests in a crime lab. Victorian
era women used to ingest arsenic to make themselves look more “regally paler” to separate
themselves from the tanned working class commoners.
Even though Orpiment and Realgar are arsenic compounds, they're not really hazardous in
a rock collection. Don't taste the minerals, wash your hands after holding them, and you will
have no problems.
mineral consisting of a native trisulfide of arsenic and usually forms with Realgar. Realgar and
Orpiment are almost always found together. Realgar is a bright reddish-orange arsenic sulfide.
Crystals of orpiment are extremely rare as it usually forms masses and crusts, and may be
crystallized in bright needles. (Realgar in this form is called ruby of arsenic). The yellow color is
special to orpiment and can be confused only with a few other minerals. These two minerals are
insoluble, but they do volatilize easily when heated. They release a strong garlic smell (arsenic).
Realgar tends to turn to orpiment when exposed to sunlight. Over time, orpiment will deteriorate
into a powder. The process takes a long time, but exposure to light will accelerate it. Specimens
should be stored in dark, enclosed containers.
Both Orpiment and Realgar occur in low temperature hydrothermal veins which are fractures
in rock where hot water precipitated minerals. They may also form in hot spring deposits and
as sublimated gasses emitted from volcanoes.
In earlier days Arsenic was often called the “Poison of Kings” and was almost impossible to
detect, but today, it can be detected with some basic chemical tests in a crime lab. Victorian
era women used to ingest arsenic to make themselves look more “regally paler” to separate
themselves from the tanned working class commoners.
Even though Orpiment and Realgar are arsenic compounds, they're not really hazardous in
a rock collection. Don't taste the minerals, wash your hands after holding them, and you will
have no problems.
| Item # ORPN 06119843 Orpiment Twin Creeks Mine, Nevada $125.00 |
| Item # ORPR 06119841 Orpiment Kola Penninsula, Russia $29.00 |
| We obtained this specimen from our friend Wally Marks at the Highway 50 and 95 Rock Shop in Fallon Nevada in 2001. This piece is from cut 62 in the Twin Creeks Mine in Humbolt County Nevada. These are rare and highly collectible specimens that usually command very high prices. This specimen is an excellent representation of the famous find that redefined the species in terms of quality for USA specimens! There is contact damage to some areas evident by the yellowish look to some of the outer lying crystals that were broken in the mining and extraction process A Very nice specimen from a historic location! This specimen weighs 0.4 lb (181g) 2.7 x 1.7 x 1.6" (71 x 43 x 41mm) |
| Orpiment Crystals on matrix El'brusskiy Mine, Caucasus, Russia We procured this specimen from a mineral dealer from Finland in 2002 who originally told us it was from the Kola Penninsula. When we questioned him further he said it really came from the El'brusskiy (Elbrusskii) Arsenic mine, Elbrus, Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Northern Caucasus Region, Russia He told us he procured it from a Russian dealer who lives in the Kola Murmansk Oblast region which borders Finland. An Excellent brilliant orange carpet like acicular crystals on a white matrix. This piece weighs (30g) 1.1oz 1.6 x 1 x 0.88" (42 x 25 x 22mm) |
| Notice to Our Customers We will be closed from May 18th through August 15th 2012 to relocate our business. Orders placed during this time will not be shipped until after August 15th. Purchases or Reservations will be honored in the date order they are received. 1st purchaser is served 1st. |