Clinosulphur
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Clinosulphur
Formula:
S8
Like α-sulphur, made of S8 rings.
Colour:
Pale yellow
Specific Gravity:
2.0
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Originally named sulphur-β for being a polymorph of sulphur. Renamed by the IMA in 2022 to indicate that it is specifically a monoclinic (hence clino) polymorph of sulphur.
Type Locality:
Polymorph of:
Stable >95.39°C, metastable at room temperature, less dense than sulphur (α-sulphur).
Pure crystals of the metastable monoclinic form can be preserved for weeks at room temperature.
It can be prepared by crystallising at 100°C and cooling rapidly to slow down formation of sulphur (α-sulphur).
Pure crystals of the metastable monoclinic form can be preserved for weeks at room temperature.
It can be prepared by crystallising at 100°C and cooling rapidly to slow down formation of sulphur (α-sulphur).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
39990
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:39990:0
IMA Classification of Clinosulphur
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA status notes:
Renamed by the IMA
IMA Formula:
S
First published:
1912
Classification of Clinosulphur
1.CC.
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
C : Metalloids and Nonmetals
C : Sulfur-selenium-iodine
1 : ELEMENTS (Metals and intermetallic alloys; metalloids and nonmetals; carbides, silicides, nitrides, phosphides)
C : Metalloids and Nonmetals
C : Sulfur-selenium-iodine
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| S-β | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Clinosulphur
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Pale yellow
Density:
2.0 g/cm3 (Measured)
Chemistry of Clinosulphur
Mindat Formula:
S8
Like α-sulphur, made of S8 rings.
Like α-sulphur, made of S8 rings.
Element Weights:
| Element | % weight |
|---|---|
| S | 100.000 % |
Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Clinosulphur
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/c
Setting:
P21/a
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.778 Å, b = 10.844 Å, c = 10.924 Å
β = 95.80°
β = 95.80°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.994 : 1 : 1.007
Unit Cell V:
1,270.22 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012682 | Clinosulphur | Templeton L K, Templeton D H, Zalkin A (1976) Crystal structure of monoclinic sulfur Inorganic Chemistry 15 1999-2001 | 1976 | synthetic | 0 | 293 | |
| 0009945 | Clinosulphur | David W I F, Ibberson R M, Cox S F J, Wood P T (2006) Order-disorder transition in monoclinic sulfur: a precise structural study by high-resolution neutron powder diffraction Acta Crystallographica B62 953-959 |  | 2006 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.609 Å | (moderately strong) |
| 4.530 Å | (moderately strong) |
| 3.803 Å | (moderately strong) |
| 3.723 Å | (very strong) |
| 3.545 Å | (very strong) |
| 3.455 Å | (strong |
| 3.359 Å | (moderately strong) |
| 3.168 Å | (moderately strong) |
Comments:
Synthetic. Data from Taylor and Rummery (1978).
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 45a : [Sulfates, arsenates, selenates, antimonates] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56) |
Geological Setting:
Commonly found as pale yellow needles around low-temperature fumaroles with gas temperatures above 96°C
Type Occurrence of Clinosulphur
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
No designated type material.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Fumaroles in the crater of a dormant volcano.
Synonyms of Clinosulphur
Other Language Names for Clinosulphur
German:Klinoschwefel
Relationship of Clinosulphur to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Sulphur Group:
| Native Sulphur | S8 | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Fddd |
| Rosickýite | S | Mon. 2/m : P2/b |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Clinosulphur associated with Opal | SiO2 · nH2O |
| 3 photos of Clinosulphur associated with Cristobalite | SiO2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 1.CC.05 | Rosickýite | S |
| 1.CC.05 | Native Sulphur | S8 |
| 1.CC.10 | Native Selenium | Se |
| 1.CC.10 | Native Tellurium | Te |
| 1.CC.15 | 'Iodine' | I2 |
Other Information
Magnetism:
Non-Magnetic
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Clinosulphur
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-39990.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Clinosulphur
Reference List:
Sands, Donald E. (1965) The Crystal Structure of Monoclinic (β) Sulfur. Journal Of The American Chemical Society, 87 (6) 1395-1396 doi:10.1021/ja01084a052
Templeton, Lieselotte K., Templeton, David H., Zalkin, Allan. (1976) Crystal structure of monoclinic sulfur. Inorganic Chemistry, 15 (8) 1999-2001 doi:10.1021/ic50162a059
Goldsmith, Larry M., Strouse, Charles E. (1977) Molecular dynamics in the solid state. The order-disorder transition of monoclinic sulfur. Journal Of The American Chemical Society, 99 (23) 7580-7589 doi:10.1021/ja00465a029
Taylor, P., Rummery, T.E. (1978) The redetermined X-ray powder diffraction pattern of β-sulfur. Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, 40 (7) 1444-1446 doi:10.1016/0022-1902(78)80068-2
David, W. I. F., Ibberson, R. M., Cox, S. F. J., Wood, P. T. (2006) Order–disorder transition in monoclinic sulfur: a precise structural study by high-resolution neutron powder diffraction. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science, 62 (6) 953-959 doi:10.1107/s0108768106039309
Localities for Clinosulphur
Showing 7 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Czech Republic | |
| Žáček et al. (1995) |
| Hršelová et al. (2013) |
Hungary | |
| Tokody (1954) |
Italy (TL) | |
| Panichi (1912) |
Japan | |
| Ryoji Tanaka analyses |
| Amir Akhavan Field Observations |
USA | |
| Finkelman et al. (1977) |
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Noboribetsu hydrothermal system, Noboribetsu City, Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō Prefecture, Japan