Colors from band-gaps in semi-conducting minerals
All of the examples of colored minerals on this page have intrinsic color
due to band gaps. In these minerals, electrons can either reside relatively
fixed at their normal energy in the valence band, or can be promoted (by
light) to a higher energy state in which the electrons are more mobile.
Golden yellow orpiment (25K) from the open
pit mine at Boron, Kern County, California, coating colemenite crystals.
Pyrite, such as this one from Spain, is opaque in the visible spectrum, but, if pure, becomes transparent in the near-infrared.
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