These
rounded, complex crystals of Sulfur were formed by fumerolic activity on Baja
California.
Front and back view of the same specimen showing the darker yellow color of
Sulfur.
Stalagmites of sulfur that grew
in a fumarole on Baja, Mexico. Hot gases melted existing sulfur crystals.
This molten material dripped down to the ground to form these stalagmites.
(Same locality as top image.)
A
Single Complex Sulfur Crystal Perched Atop a Bundle of Kalinite Crystals - Baja,
Mexico
This image is of gases from a
volcanic fumerole in Baja, Mexico
An agricultural use of Sulfur is
seen in this image of a field in western Maricopa County, AZ
CHEMISTRY S Sulfur
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY Orthorhombic
CRYSTAL GROWTH AND HABITS Crystals are commonly small bipyramids or tabular. Sulfur may also be massive, stalactitic, encrusting or granular.
COLOR AND OTHER OPTICAL PROPERTIES Sulfur is usually yellow but can also be yellowish orange or brownish orange.
HARDNESS 1.5 - 2.5
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 2.07
LUSTER Resinous to greasy
STREAK Yellowish white
BREAKABILITY Sulfur has imperfect cleavage in three direction, is very brittle and has conchoidal fracture. It also has a high coefficient of thermal expansion and low conductivity for a non metallic mineral - meaning that even the heat from your hand can cause cause the outer layer of Sulfur crystals to crack and flake.
OCCURRENCE Sulfur is produced as a sublimation around volcanic fumaroles and as a product of bacteria in anaerobic environments where it can result in sedimentary deposits.
ASSOCIATED MINERALS Gypsum, Anhydrite, Halite, Kalinite, Aragonite, Calcite, Celestine
NAME Latin - Sulfur