2" Orpiment & Realgar with Barite Crystals - Peru

Orpiment & Realgar with Barite Crystals - Peru #63806

This is a beautiful specimen of clear barite with bright orange orpiment crystals from Peru. The rectangular barite crystals are well defined and nearly all are damage free. The orpiment has a rich orange coloration, and there is a very small cluster realgar crystals sitting on what could be considered the top of the specimen. It measures 2" long and would make an excellent addition to any mineral collection.

Orpiment is a bright orange to yellow arsenic sulfide mineral. Its name is derived from the latin phrase auripigmentum, meaning “gold pigment”. It is frequently found as a decay byproduct and in association with another arsenic mineral, realgar. Orpiment crystals are commonly found in dense groupings containing small, prismatic crystals, often with chisel-shaped or triangular pyramidal terminations.

Orpiment contains a significant amount of the poisonous mineral arsenic. While it’s not going to pose a health hazard sitting on a shelf, it’s recommended that you wash your hands after handling it.

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