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Orpiment
Orpiment is sulfide (arsenic), As₂S₃. In the hand, it rates 1.5 to 2 on the Mohs scale, and it runs golden yellow and lemon. Golden pearly mineral that peels into flexible glittering flakes, arsenic's yellow calling card, usually beside its orange-red partner realgar. Low-temperature arsenic veins and hot springs: Twin Creeks (Nevada, USA), Peru, China (Hunan), Turkey.
The geology.
Orpiment carries the formula As₂S₃. It belongs to the monoclinic system. On paper it is sulfide (arsenic).
It sits at 1.5 to 2 on the Mohs scale. The surface reads resinous to pearly. Light behaviour is translucent. Specific gravity runs 3.4 to 3.5. The streak is lemon yellow. It breaks with perfect cleavage; flexible golden flakes.
Golden pearly mineral that peels into flexible glittering flakes, arsenic's yellow calling card, usually beside its orange-red partner realgar.
Expect to see it as foliated golden masses, crusts with realgar or bladed aggregates.
The origins.
Low-temperature arsenic veins and hot springs: Twin Creeks (Nevada, USA), Peru, China (Hunan), Turkey.
On value, the database notes: collector mineral; golden Nevada plates are showpieces.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, orpiment has no safe handling lore tradition, it is strictly a sealed-display collector mineral.
Recorded here because it is part of how this material is sold, not because it is a property of the material.
Spotting the real thing.
Golden pearly mineral that peels into flexible glittering flakes, arsenic's yellow calling card, usually beside its orange-red partner realgar.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Sulfur | Sulfur is brittle canary crystals with a faint smell; orpiment is flaky golden with pearly cleavage |
| Realgar | The constant companion is orange-red, same mine, same hazard |
| Yellow ochre/limonite | Ochre is earthy and far less glittery |
At-home tests.
None of these need a lab. A 10x loupe, good daylight and a steady hand cover most of what a buyer needs to know about orpiment.
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| By eye | Lemon-yellow streak |
| By eye | Pearly flexible flakes |
| By eye | Soft as a fingernail, but handle minimally (see hazard) |
Stop short of anything that leaves a mark. A gemologist can answer the rest without damaging the stone.
Care & handling.
At 1.5 to 2 on the Mohs scale this is a soft material. Keep it as a display piece, store it apart from harder stones, and skip daily-wear settings.
It breaks with perfect cleavage; flexible golden flakes, which is worth knowing before you set it or drop it.
Skip the ultrasonic. Lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth handle routine cleaning without risk.
Arsenic sulfide, keep in a closed display, wash hands after any contact, never powder, heat, or shelf it within children's reach.
A deeper look.
Extended detail on composition, sourcing, authentication and market value.
The physical record
The formula on record is As₂S₃. Crystal system: Monoclinic. Specific gravity: 3.4 to 3.5. Streak: Lemon yellow. Cleavage and fracture: Perfect cleavage; flexible golden flakes.
How it reaches the market
Low-temperature arsenic veins and hot springs: Twin Creeks (Nevada, USA), Peru, China (Hunan), Turkey.
What it gets confused with
Sulfur: Sulfur is brittle canary crystals with a faint smell; orpiment is flaky golden with pearly cleavage. Realgar: The constant companion is orange-red, same mine, same hazard. Yellow ochre/limonite: Ochre is earthy and far less glittery.
What it is worth
Collector mineral; golden Nevada plates are showpieces.
One more thing
Old Masters painted radiant golds with ground orpiment, 'King's Gold', long before anyone connected the pigment to its poisoning.
An education-first guide.
We do not carry orpiment. This page exists because the question comes up and the honest answer is worth writing down, whether or not there is anything here to sell you.
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