Native Sulphur is easily recognized by its distinctive bright yellow color, resinous luster, and low hardness. It is typically found near volcanic vents or as a secondary mineral in sedimentary beds associated with evaporites.
Is this native sulphur?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch native sulphur with a known reference. Native Sulphur sits at Mohs 1.5-2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: resinous to greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: sulfur-yellow, honey-yellow, yellowish brown, greenish, reddish, yellowish gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: dipyramidal crystals, earthy, massive, encrusting.
Often confused with
Native Sulphur vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Native Sulphur leaves white, Orpiment leaves pale lemon-yellow.
How to tell apart: Sphalerite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 1.5-2.5); streak differs, so Native Sulphur leaves white, Sphalerite leaves pale brown to pale yellow and white.
How to tell apart: Smithsonite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-4.5 vs. 1.5-2.5); luster reads resinous to greasy on Native Sulphur and vitreous, may be pearly on Smithsonite.
Often found alongside native sulphur
Minerals reported to co-occur with native sulphur. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- S
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2.5
- Density
- 2.07 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Resinous to greasy
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Dipyramidal crystals, earthy, massive, encrusting
- Cleavage
- Imperfect on {001}, {110}, {111}; parting on {111}
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Industrial
- Host rock
- A sublimation product at volcanic fumaroles; a product of the activity of biological micro-organisms; as a result of low oxidation potential and highly acidic chemical reactions in mineral deposits
Where rockhounds find native sulphur
Classic worldwide localities
- Salt domes, as in Louisiana, especially in the area of Lake Charles, Chalcasieu Parish, and in Texas near Freeport, Brazoria Co., USA
- California, at the Sulfur Bank mercury mine, on Clear Creek, Lake Co. Crystals from quarries at Maybee and Scofield, Monroe Co., Michigan, USA
- Sulfur Mountain, in Yellowstone Park
- Cianciana, Agrigento, and Racalmuto, the source of exceptionally large and fine crystals, Sicily
- Perticara, near Rimini, Marche, Sicily
- Carrara, Tuscany, Sicily
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A sublimation product at volcanic fumaroles; a product of the activity of biological micro-organisms; as a result of low oxidation potential and highly acidic chemical reactions in mineral deposits. If you start seeing gypsum, anhydrite, halite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: dipyramidal crystals, earthy, massive, encrusting. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
More native sulphur photos
Common questions
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Find native sulphur on the map
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