SMFS Sulphur

Previous South Coast Minerals No.5

Sulphur Return to Mineral Cabinet

Sulphur, Rope Lake Head, Kimmeridge, Dorset.

Specimen and report from SMFS member John Thomas. In June 1974 the Society held a field trip to visit a cliff near Kimmeridge, Dorset to see the rare occurrence of the cliff burning. The cliffs around Kimmeridge contain much oil bearing shale are are prone to spontaneous combustion at times. We walked from Kimmeridge to the site at Rope Lake Head, (National grid reference: SY 927777) a distance of about 2 miles. As we approached the site we could see the smoke and smell the sulphur. On the top of the cliff there was a large vug with sulphur forming around the edge . Photographs of the site were taken and sulphur specimens were collected from around the edge of the vug. The sample you see is the largest piece that shows excellent crystals which was collected on that day. This is a unique specimen as it is extremely rare to find sulphur on the coast of Dorset. Width of specimen = 140 mm

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