2.8" Rough Bright Yellow Sulfur Crystal Mineral Specimen From Louisiana

Location: Sulfur, Louisiana, United States 

Weight: 3 Ounces 

Dimensions: 2.8 Inches Long, 2.2 Inches Wide, 1.7 Inches Thick

The item pictured is the one you will receive.  

Sulfur, particularly native sulfur, has held significant historical and economic importance in Louisiana due to its unique geological formation. The state’s sulfur deposits are primarily associated with the caprock of salt domes, a geological structure commonly found in the Gulf Coast region.

These sulfur deposits formed through bacterial sulfate reduction, a biogenic process in which bacteria reduce anhydrite (calcium sulfate) using hydrocarbons as an energy source. This reaction produces hydrogen sulfide, which then interacts with oxygenated groundwater to form elemental sulfur. This biogenic origin sets Louisiana’s sulfur deposits apart from those formed through volcanic or other geological processes.

Early sulfur mining in Louisiana faced significant challenges due to unconsolidated sediments and the presence of quicksand. The Frasch process, developed by Herman Frasch, revolutionized extraction by injecting superheated water into sulfur-bearing formations, melting the sulfur, and pumping the molten sulfur to the surface with compressed air. This innovative method made mining economically feasible and established Louisiana as a leading global sulfur producer for decades.

The extracted sulfur, often referred to as "brimstone," was a crucial raw material for various industries, including the production of sulfuric acid, fertilizers, chemicals, and explosives. The purity of Frasch-mined sulfur was typically very high, making it a desirable commodity. While the direct mining of sulfur in Louisiana has largely ceased due to economic factors and the availability of sulfur as a byproduct of natural gas processing, the historical significance of these deposits and the innovative mining techniques developed there remain important aspects of the state's industrial heritage and geological understanding.