Sulphur sinter

Synonym

Sulfur sinter

Required Geological Setting

Island arc volcanoes

Occurrence

A kind of hot spring sinters composed of sulphur deposited from hot spring water. H₂S-bearing hot spring water contacts with the air on the surface, and sulphur is formed by the reaction with oxgen in the air as follows:

2H₂O + O₂ = 2S + 2H₂O

Sulphur formed by this reation is white to pale yellow thin films floating in the hot spring water, and these films deposit on the bottom in the meanwhile. Because of the appearance of white thin films floating in the water, these films are called as "Yu-no-hana", flowers of the hot spring, in Japan.

Reported Minerals

• Sulphur