FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Maxilos]

Hi,
I gor the specimen, realgar, but my dad wants to remove it from my collection, because it disolves and mixes with air. He wants to make foto's of it and put those in my collection. the realgar it self, he wants to bring it to the comunity deposit, department: poisonous. I think you can guess what, I don't want to bring it there. What can I do?

[Carles Millan]

Hi!

Realgar is not harmful at all provided it does not enter anybody's mouth or nose. Keep it in a drawer or showcase and be careful after touching it with your hands. Just wash them thoroughly. Indeed, very small amounts of arsenic are added to several pharmaceuticals to treat some diseases.

[Tracy]

Even Carles' suggestion to wash hands thoroughly after handling realgar is being more cautious than necessary. I cannot imagine one might receive a systemic exposure to arsenic of any significance simply by handling an arsenic-containing mineral - much less keeping it in a drawer. Arsenic is only a poison in large quantities or with prolonged exposure; your one specimen would not put you in any special risk. :-)

- Tracy

[chris]

Hi Maxilos,

To complete what was said ealier, you can try to find a plastic box and put it inisde. So you won't have any trouble with manipulations.

If you don't already know it realgar has 2 major problems : it is light and moisture sensitive. Putting it inside a sealed box will prevent moisture to futher alter it. Putting the box inside a drawer out of light will help as well.

Christophe

[alfredo]

Maxilos, Tell your father you don't plan on eating it or snorting it. It doesn't evaporate into the air, so your house atmosphere should still remain arsenic-free.

[Maxilos]

Thank you all, my father is reassured. Of course, I will make some sort of plastic box of darker plexiglass, removal of course. I will also act upon all your other advices

[Maxilos]

What glue is best to use on a specimen that is covert almost entirely with orpiment (to glue it to the plexiglass box)?

Mark