(MGW) ORPIMENT SPECIMEN GOLD BAR MINE USA 65 CTS FP 887

Item Description Pictures Bidding History Comments

About This Auction		About This Seller: mineralgemworld
Minimum Bid (USD)		Feedback Rating	99.75% Positive
Current Bid (USD)	0.00	Member Since	September 1, 2007 in Australia
Bid Increment	1.00	View feedback Send seller message View 2582 other auctions from this seller More about this seller
Bids Placed	0
Starting Bid (USD)	15.00
Reserve Price (USD)	none
Starts	September 3, 2008 7:55 AM
Ends	September 8, 2008 7:53 AM	Basic Shipping Information
Auction Category	Mineral Specimens	Shipping Cost	3.00 paid by buyer
Auction ID	11016	Shipping Insurance (optional)	7.00
Ends in 3 days 9 minutes
* note for every bid placed in the last 5 minutes the auction end time increases by 60 seconds - refresh page to update

Gallery

* Hint: Click on the thumbnails above to see the full sized version. Images are of the actual item unless otherwise indicated.

Description

ORPIMENT SPECIMENT FROM RUSSIA

As2S3

THIS SPECIMEN WAS MINED AT THE GOLD BAR MINE IN EUREKA COUNTRY USA. THE GOLD MINE IS NOW CLOSED BUT IT PRODUCED SOME GREAT SPECIMENS.

ORPIMENT IS AN ORANGE TO YELLOW MINERAL THAT IS FOUND WORLDWIDE,AND OCCURS AS A SUBLIMATION PRODUCT IN VOLCANIC FUMAROLES, LOW TEMPERATURES HYDROTHERMAL VEINS, HOT SPRINGS AND AS A BYPRODUCT OF THE DECAY OF ANOTHER ARSENIC MINERAL, REALGAR.

IT WAS AN IMPORTANT ITEM OF TRADE IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE AND WAS USE AS A MEDICE IN CHINA ALTHOUGH IT IS HIGH TOXIC. IT WAS ALSO USED AS A FLY POISON AND TO POISON ARROWS. BECAUSE OF ITS STRIKING COLOR, IT WAS ALSO A FAVOURITE WITH ALCHEMISTS SEARCHING FOR A WAY TO MAKE GOLD, BOITH IN CHINA AND THE WEST.

ORPIMENT WAS GROUND, PROCESSED AND USED FOR CENTURIES AS A PIGMENT IN PAINTING, BEING ONE OF THE FEW CLEAR, BRIGHT YELLOW PIGMENTS AVAILABLE TO ARTISTS UP UNTIL THE 19^TH CENTURY.

SIZE: 29 X 19 X 16 MM APPROX.

WEIGHT: 65 CTS APPROX