Melian sulphur
Melian sulphur
Sulphur precipitated from vapour at fumarole.
Origin of sulphur (theion)
Sulphur occurs at fumaroles which are scattered throughout SE Melos. It is found as layers of sulphur in the ‘soils’ around fumaroles and also in underground pockets and veins. Here we illustrate some fumarole sulphur.
Sulphur isotope analyses indicated that the sulphur in all S-bearing minerals at fumaroles is dominantly of magmatic origin. There has been little fractionation in spite of the diverse chemical and redox conditions in the fumarole environment.
Pottery believed to be moulds for collecting remelted sulphur have been found in SE Melos and may be evidence of production in Roman/Classical times.
Crystals of sulphur, Fyriplaka cave fumarole.
Scanning Electron Micrograph of millimetre-size crystals of sulphur.
The skeletal nature has resulted from rapid crystal growth from vapour escaping from a fumarole
References
McNulty, A. and Hall, A.J. 2001. Divine Theion: the exploitation of sulphur in Melos and Italy. In: J.E. Fell, P.D. Nicolaou and G.D. Xydous, 5th International Mining History Congress, 12-15 Sept 2000, Milos Island, Greece: Book of Proceedings. Milos Conference Center - George Eliopoulos. 86-91.
Hall, A.J., Fallick, A.E., Perdikatsis, V. and Photos-Jones, E. 2003. A model for the origin of Al-rich efflorescences near fumaroles, Melos, Greece: enhanced weathering in a geothermal setting. Mineralogical Magazine. 67, 363-379.
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