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Mineralpedia Details for Orpiment

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Orpiment

Orpiment

Named for the Latin word auripigmentum, meaning “golden paint,” in reference to Orpiment’s golden-yellow color. Orpiment is somewhat common in small amounts, however excellent crystal specimens are rare and can be found in localities in the United States, Slovakia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Iran, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, China, and Peru. It occurs “in low-temperature hydrothermal veins, hot springs, and fumaroles,” and is also commonly found as a product of the alteration of arsenic minerals, in particular, realgar.

Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/orpiment.pdf

Formula
As2S3 
Crystal System
Monoclinic 
Crystal Habit
Prismatic, Massive - Fibrous, Foliated 
Cleavage
Perfect, None, None 
Luster
Pearly 
Color
lemon yellow, brownish yellow, orange yellow 
Streak
pale yellow 
Class
Monoclinic - Prismatic 
Fracture
Sectile 
Hardness
1.5-2 
WebMineral
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Mindat
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Orpiment from Getchell mine, Humboldt Co., Nevada, United States

Orpiment
            from Getchell mine, Humboldt Co., Nevada, United States Hard to get Getchell mine specimen with large well-formed orange crystals to 1cm with minor red Realgar. Excellent specimen. Overall 8x7x4cm. It was probably acquired at the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences collection late in its acquisition period.
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Orpiment from Quiruvilca mine, Santiago de Chuco prov., La Libertad dept., Peru

Orpiment
            from Quiruvilca mine, Santiago de Chuco prov., La Libertad dept., Peru

Orange crystal aggregates to 1cm bladed, white to clear Barite crystals.

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Orpiment from Twin Creeks mine, Humboldt Co., Nevada, United States

Orpiment
            from Twin Creeks mine, Humboldt Co., Nevada, United States
Special Info
Classic Locality

Cluster of saturated gemmy-orange Orpiment crystals to 1cm, with a beautiful adamantine luster and slight striations on a plastic stand. 

These Orpiments from Twin Creeks are a staple for collectors of minerals from Nevada and the US desert southwest.

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Orpiment from Allchar, Roszdan, Macedonia

Orpiment
            from Allchar, Roszdan, Macedonia

Yellow to greay botryoidal Orpiment. Very nice and interesting specimen showing an unusual and uncommon habit for Orpiment.

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