Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which other minerals commonly contain arsenic?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

A labeled diagram of the periodic table entry for arsenic, showing its atomic number 33, symbol As, atomic weight 74.921595, electron configuration, and classification as an other nonmetal. Additional icons indicate arsenic is solid at room temperature, has a rhombohedral crystal structure, and weakly acidic oxides. — arsenic Properties of arsenic.

Arsenic is widely distributed in nature and is found in more than 150 different minerals, primarily as sulfides, arsenides, sulfoarsenides, and arsenites.1

The most common arsenic-bearing mineral is arsenopyrite (FeAsS), which serves as the chief source of the element. Other common minerals containing arsenic include:12

Sulfides and Sulfarsenides: Realgar (AsS) and orpiment (As₂S₃).12
Arsenides: Loellingite (FeAs₂), niccolite (NiAs), and skutterudite (CoAs₃).13
Sulfosalts: Enargite (Cu₃AsS₄) and proustite (Ag₃AsS₃).12
Other Arsenides: Minerals such as maucherite, rammelsbergite, safflorite, and sperrylite also contain arsenic.3

Additionally, arsenic is frequently found in association with metals like antimony and silver, and it is often recovered as a by-product during the smelting of copper, lead, cobalt, and gold ores.1