Realgar
Realgar is a mineral with formula As₄S₄, in the Sulfuros group. This specimen comes from Baia Sprie Mine, Baia Sprie, Maramureș, Transilvania, Rumanía.
Description
Elongate prismatic crystals of intensely vermilion-red realgar with high lustre. The crystals form sprays and crossed groupings on a pale grey matrix.
History of this specimen
One of the last pieces from the locality, preserved and kept for years until it was put up for sale. It comes from the late 2005 find, the last major lot of realgar before the final closure. The preservation of the colour and the fresh lustre tell me it was protected from light and air.
About Realgar
An intense red arsenic sulphide, very sensitive to light, which progressively transforms into pararealgar (not into orpiment, as was maintained for many years). Although not all are like this, the best Baia Sprie realgar, like this, is recognised by its very red, lustrous, well-formed prismatic crystals, always on a pale grey matrix. Those major historical finds—such as the last large lot of 2005—set the visual "canon" for European collector realgar.
About the locality
The Baia Sprie deposit is a Maramureș classic, active almost continuously from the Middle Ages until 2006. Its closure came during post-communist restructuring and after the serious Baia Mare accident of 2000, which greatly increased environmental pressure on mining in the region. The 2005 find was the last notable production of realgar from the locality.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0261
- Composition
- As₄S₄
- Name
- Realgar
- Group
- Sulfuros
- Category
- Meritum Persé
- Matrix
- Calcedonia
- Mine
- Baia Sprie Mine
- District / Municipality
- Baia Sprie
- Province
- Maramureș
- Region
- Transilvania
- Country
- Rumanía
- Size (cm)
- 5 x 4 x 2
- Weight
- 35.8 g
- Etymology
- From the Arabic "rahj al-ghār" ('cave powder'), the historical root of the term "realgar".
- Quality
- Top
- Value trend
- Al alza
Related specimens
- Oropimente — China
- Esfalerita (Marmatita) — Rusia
- Estibina — Rumanía
- Estibina — Rumanía
- Estibina — Rumanía
- Pararealgar — Rumanía
- Galena — España
- Goethita — España