Orpiment -- Arsenic Sulfide

Orpiment -- Arsenic Sulfide (As2S3)
Source = Nevada
Purity = Unknown
Size of sample = approximately ¾” long x ½” wide x ½” thick.

Orpiment (Arsenic Sulfide)
Sublimate = colors are accurate.
Image taken with 35mm camera and a 135mm lens, set at macro for close-up focusing, shutter speed = 1/125th of second in cloudy conditions using 200 film and developed by Kodak 1 hour commercial labs and then digitized.Scraping of the yellow orpiment deposited in cavity carved in plaster tablet to keep the powder from being blown away when torch flame began to oxidize the tiny fragments.There was a happen-chance gentle breeze when this test was in progress causing the sublimate to change direction. This breeze was sp slight it did not affect test, but does show that a outdoors and wind-free area is required.
Additional blowpipe and simple chemical tests should be applied to confirm or deny if arsenic. This is especially true if multiple minerals are present, which can and often does mask or interfere with sublimate coloration(s).

40x
Orpiment -- As2S3
Image created with B&L SZ5 microscope, coupled to a ccd camera and computer.
This digital image color is very close to the physical.
Obvious melting has occurred, but this 1/8” long x 1/8” wide x 1/8” thick coalesced blob did not reduce to a metal, but reduction was not the object.
Oddly, I did not smell the garlic odor, but did get an astringent disagreeable taste in mouth. Some white smoke occurred while heating this mineral.