FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[William Size]

I have a specimen of sulfur that is labeled as coming from Girgenti, Sicily, but it looks no different from sulfur from Mexico. Is there a way to tell the difference and does it matter when it comes to value? Thanks

[Brokenstone]

Hi at all, the correct locality is "Agrigento, Sicily. Italy" famous by her Roman sulphur mines. About the differences with others crystal´s sulphur, I can't explain, perhaps another person in this forum can explain better than me.
Greetings from Spain.
Pablo

[Jordi Fabre]

Girgenti is the Sicilian name for the Italian name Agrigento, which is a province of Sicily, worldwide famous for its Sulfur deposits as well as for the magnificent crystals mined there on the past. The differences between Italian and Mexican or Bolivian Sulfur crystals are the crystal size (the Italian ones bigger), the related minerals (frequent Calcite or Celestine on the Italians, not so much or nothing on the other ones) and specially the quality of the crystals, more gemmy and sharp the Italian.

Viewing your photo I have not doubts about the Sicilian provenance of your Sulfur. I can't tell you the mine, but probably Racalmuto. Anyway, congratulations, your specimen looks great!

Mineralogical Record had published an excellent article about some fake sulfur from the 70's but your specimen looks natural with the Calcite or Celestine associated. Here you have the details of the Record's article:
Artificial "Sicilian" sulfurs
Mineralogical Record, Mar/Apr 2002 by Pagano, Renato

[Tony L. Potucek]

Hi,
The Mexican sulfur locality near San Felipe in the Baja is hosted by heavily corroded granitic rocks. The matrix usually appears to be bleached white and fairly fine-grained--the texture virtually wiped out by the alteration. The sulfur crystals rarely get over 15 mm and are called lemon drops due to their similar appearance to the hard candy. The crystals can get quite gemmy and lustrous and are highly modified. At their best, even though very attractive, the crystal groups don't come close to best of the Sicilian specimens. I collected some great specimens from San Felipe a number of years ago while digging with Mark Kielbaso for Top Gem. The locality is about 4 miles inland from the Sea of Cortez, and it is almost a perfect locale because you can drive back to the beach and camp at night after a good day digging.

Salud,

[parfaitelumiere]

Hello, your specimen seems to come from the same place as mine...same shape of the sulphur crystals and same aragonite or calcite matrix.

[siculorum]

Hello to all forum, my name is Corrado and I live in Sicily.
I collect Sicilian minerals and I'm an expert of mine and tipology of sulphur, celestine, aragonite, and gypsum.

The first photo of sulphur is from an old Sicilian mine , Cianciana is the county and the mine is called " Falconera ". It is closed since 1964 and is famous for the best pseudohexagonal Aragonite crystals of the world.
The sulphur is also best transparent with green-yellow color very gemmy.
Typically it is associated with calcite, aragonite, gypsum, and in rare cases with celestine.
The second photo is a sulphur crystal in pseudohexagonal aragonite-calcite matrix.
This comes from Cozzodisi mine, near Agrigento (old name Girgenti) the mine is closed in 1990.
Typical of this mine.

Ciao and Best wishes and Happy Christmas.


Corrado.

[Jordi Fabre]

Ciao Corrado, welcome to the Forum!
Thanks for a so complete details about the Sulfur and Sicilian mines.

Jordi