Sulfide Minerals

A mercury sulfide, cinnabar takes its name from the Persian zinjirfrah and Arabic zinjafr, which mean “dragon’s blood.” It is bright scarlet to deep grayish red in color. It is the major source of mercury.

The principal ore of antimony, stibnite is antimony sulfide. Its name comes from the Latin stibium. Lead-gray to silvery gray in color, it often develops a black, iridescent tarnish on exposure to light. It normally occurs as elongated, prismatic crystals that may be bent or twisted.

An arsenic sulfide, orpiment is a soft yellow or orange mineral. Widely distributed, it is typically powdery or massive, but it is also found as cleavable, columnar, or foliated masses. Distinct crystals are uncommon, but when found they are short prisms.

A molybdenum sulfide, molybdenite is the most important source of molybdenum, which is an important element in high-strength steels. Molybdenite was originally thought to be lead, and its name is derived from the Greek word for lead, molybdos. It was recognized as a distinct mineral by the Swedish chemist Carl Scheele in 1778.

An important ore of arsenic, realgar is bright red or orange in color. Crystals are not often found, but when they occur they are short, prismatic, and striated. Realgar mostly occurs as coarse to fine granular masses and as encrustations.

Acanthite is a form of silver sulfide with the chemical formula: Ag2S. It crystallizes inside the monoclinic gadget and is the solid form of silver sulfide under 173 °C (343 °F). A silver sulfide, it is the maximum important ore of silver. It additionally happens in huge form and has an opaque, grayish black color.

Rainbow pyrite, also known as iridescent pyrite or peacock pyrite, is a captivating mineral known for its stunning metallic luster and a rainbow of...

Covellite is a rare sulfide mineral that is known for its distinctive indigo-blue to blackish-blue coloration. Its name is derived from the Latin word...