Orpiment, Realgar with Pyrite

Shimen, Hunan China

Orpiment's name is derived from the latin phrase auripigmentum, meaning "gold pigment" and its crystals are usually founnd with other arsenic minerals, like Realgar. A captivating mineral, Realgar is known for its vibrant red to red-orange color.

Rich and showy, Realgar has been used as a pigment in art, as well as in historical alchemy and medicine. From illuminated manuscripts and paintings to the quest to create gold alchemically, Realgar's role today is primarily confined to mineral collections.