Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Shimen, Hunan area, China
SIZE : 4.5 x 2 cm

This outstanding isolated crystal of realgar is gemmeous and beautifully red coloured. It measures 4.5 x 2 cm.

It comes from the mineral deposit of Shimen in Hunan area in China. Acquired thanks to support from Total, it is today kept in the storage rooms of the collections of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (i.e., not yet displayed to the public).

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle, © MNHN.

SPECIE : Realgar

HISTORY : Name inspired by the arab "rahj al ghar" meaning powder of mine

Species first described in 1747 by Johan Gottschalk Wallerius (1709-1785), Swedish chemist and mineralogist

Type-locality: undefined because species already known by the Ancients

CHEMICAL FORMULA : As S
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Monoclinic
COLOR : Red to yellow-orange
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent
LUSTER : Resineous to greasy
STREAK : Red-orange
MORPHOLOGY : Prismatic striated crystals
HARDNESS : 1,5-2,0
DENSITY : 3,59

CHEMICAL CLASS : II - Sulfides, arsenides
GROUP : Realgar
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 2/F.02-30
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 2.FA.15

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Realgar

Realgar

MNHN N°206.162

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