Pararealgar is an alteration product formed when the mineral realgar is exposed to light, causing its crystal structure to break down. It typically appears as a yellow-orange, crumbly coating or powdery mass on realgar specimens. Collectors should keep specimens in dark, airtight containers to prevent further degradation.
Is this pararealgar?
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 pararealgar with a known reference. Pararealgar sits at Mohs 1-1.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: bright yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to resinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: orange, light yellow, orange brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: powdery.
Often confused with
Pararealgar vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Pararealgar leaves bright yellow, Realgar leaves red-orange to red; luster reads vitreous to resinous on Pararealgar and resinous to greasy on Realgar.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Pararealgar leaves bright yellow, Orpiment leaves pale lemon-yellow; luster reads vitreous to resinous on Pararealgar and resinous, pearly on cleavage surface on Orpiment.
Often found alongside pararealgar
Minerals reported to co-occur with pararealgar. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- As₄S₄
- Mohs hardness
- 1-1.5
- Density
- 3.52 g/cm³
- Streak
- Bright yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous to resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent when coarsely granular
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Powdery
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An alteration product of realgar in stibnite-bearing quartz veins, the alteration typically a result of exposure to light
Where rockhounds find pararealgar
Classic worldwide localities
- Golconda and Getchell mines, Humboldt Co., Nevada, USA
- Mount Washington, Comox district, on Vancouver Island (type locality), British Columbia, Canada
- Siwash Creek, in the Kamloops district, British Columbia, Canada
- Gray Rock property, head of Traux Creek, in the Bridge River Area, Lillooet district, British Columbia, Canada
- Hemlo gold deposit, Thunder Bay district, Ontario, Canada
- Lengenbach quarry, Binntal, Valais, Switzerland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An alteration product of realgar in stibnite-bearing quartz veins, the alteration typically a result of exposure to light. If you start seeing realgar, stibnite, tetrahedrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: powdery. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify pararealgar?+
Where is pararealgar found?+
Is pararealgar safe to handle?+
What rocks look like pararealgar?+
What minerals are found with pararealgar?+
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What is pararealgar used for?+
Find pararealgar on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
