Sulfur
Native element · S · also: Sulphur
Native sulfur is the pure element, a soft, bright-yellow mineral that forms around volcanic vents and hot springs and burns with a blue flame.
What is sulfur?
Native sulfur is elemental sulfur, an unmistakable bright canary-yellow. It forms translucent crystals and crusts around volcanic fumaroles, hot springs and in salt-dome cap rock. It is soft, brittle, a poor conductor of heat (it can crack from the warmth of a hand) and has a faint “struck match” smell.
Properties
- Chemical formula
- S
- Category
- Native element
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 1.5–2.5
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Lustre
- Resinous
- Streak
- White to pale yellow
- Colour
- Bright yellow
- Cleavage / fracture
- Poor
How to identify sulfur
- →Bright canary-yellow colour, translucent resinous crystals.
- →Very soft, hardness 1.5–2.5, and brittle.
- →Can crack audibly from the warmth of your hand.
- →Faint sulfurous (burnt-match) smell.
Where sulfur is found
Fine sulfur comes from Sicily (Italy), Poland and volcanic areas of Indonesia, Bolivia and the USA.
Sulfur finds on minShelf
No sulfur on the map yet.
Have one? Be the first to add it.
Think you've found sulfur?
Photograph it and minShelf takes a first guess at what it is, records its properties, and pins it on your map. Other collectors help confirm the identification. Free.