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Realgar
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  AsS

Discovered in 1747;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
Realgar is named from the Arabic, rahj al ghar, meaning "powder of the mine."

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Sulfides

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

2/F.02-30

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

2.FA.15

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

Related to:

Alters to Pararealgar on exposure to light. Trimorphous with Alacránite and Pararealgar.

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Crystals are prismatic, to 12 cm, and striated; more commonly massive, coarse to fine granular, or as incrustations and earthy masses.

Twinning:

As contact twins on [100]

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[010] Good

Fracture:

Sectile

Tenacity:

Slightly brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

1.5 - 2.0

Density:

3.56 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioacitve

Health Warning:

CAUTION: Contains Arsenic - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest.

Optical Properties

Color:

Dark Red to Orange-Red

Transparency:

Transparent, Translucent

Luster:

Resinous, Greasy, Adamantine to Sub-metallic

Refractive Index:

2.538 - 2.704  Biaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.166 (very high)

Dispersion:

Very Strong; r > v

Pleochroism:

Visible; nearly colorless to pale golden yellow

Anisotropism:

Strong

Occurances

Geological Setting:

Most commonly as a low-temperature hydrothermal vein mineral associated with As–Sb minerals; also as volcanic sublimations and in hot spring deposits; in carbonate and clay sedimentary rocks.

Common Associations:

Arsenolite and other Arsenic minerals, Barite, Calcite, Orpiment

Type Locality:

Zarshuran Mine, Azarbayjan-e Khavari, Takab (Takan Tepe), Iran

Year Discovered:

1747

View mineral photos:

Realgar Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Realgar is an extremely rare gem and is somewhat unstable. With exposure to light, Realgar will begin to alter to a different mineral, Pararealgar, and eventually deteriorate to a powder. Fortunately, this process takes a very long time however. Ancient Chinese carvings of Realgar still exist but are badly damaged by the deterioration. Realgar should be kept in the dark in an enclosed container and only exposed to light for brief periods. The color of Realgar is truly amazing, a very intense orangish-red, and is well worth the effort to preserve it. Because of its Arsenic content, Realgar is somewhat poisonous and should be handled carefully. It is also very, very soft with a Mohs hardness of only 1.5 - 2.0, and therefore difficult to facet.

There are only a few locations worldwide for fine Realgar crystals. One of the best known locations is at the Shimen mine, 33 km southeast of Shimen, Hunan Province, China. Another location known for fairly large crystals is the Palomo Mine, Castrovirreyna Province, Huancavelica Department, Peru. Very fine large crystals are also found in the USA at the Getchell mine, Potosi district, Humboldt County, Nevada.
 

  
Realgar gems for sale:

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