2.1" Rough Bright Yellow Sulfur Crystal Mineral Specimen From Louisiana

Location: Sulfur, Louisiana, United States 

Weight: 3.5 Ounces 

Dimensions: 2.1 Inches Long, 1.9 Inches Wide, 1.7 Inches Thick

The item pictured is the one you will receive.  

Sulfur, particularly native sulfur, has been historically significant in Louisiana due to its unique geological formation and economic importance. The sulfur deposits in Louisiana are primarily associated with the caprock of salt domes, a geological structure common in the Gulf Coast region.

The sulfur deposits in Louisiana are primarily formed through bacterial sulfate reduction, a process in which bacteria reduce anhydrite (calcium sulfate) within the caprock using hydrocarbons as an energy source. This reaction produces hydrogen sulfide, which subsequently reacts with oxygenated groundwater to form elemental sulfur. This biogenic origin sets Louisiana’s sulfur deposits apart from those formed by volcanic activity or other geological processes, making them unique in the Gulf Coast region.

Early attempts to mine sulfur in Louisiana were hindered by the unconsolidated overlying sediments and the presence of quicksand, making extraction extremely difficult. The invention of the Frasch process by Herman Frasch revolutionized sulfur mining in the late 19th century. This innovative method involved injecting superheated water into sulfur-bearing formations, melting the sulfur, and then using compressed air to pump the molten sulfur to the surface.

The Frasch process enabled the economical extraction of high-purity sulfur from challenging geological conditions and established Louisiana as a major global producer of sulfur for decades. This sulfur became an essential raw material for industries including fertilizer production, chemicals, sulfuric acid, explosives, cementing Louisiana’s role in industrial history.

Known as "brimstone," the sulfur extracted from Louisiana was an essential ingredient for key industries like sulfuric acid, fertilizers, chemicals, and explosives. Thanks to the exceptional purity of Frasch-mined sulfur, it was highly sought after. Although direct sulfur mining in Louisiana has largely stopped due to economic shifts and the rise of sulfur as a byproduct of natural gas processing, the legacy of these rich deposits and groundbreaking mining methods still defines the state’s industrial heritage and deepens our geological insight.