On Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:26:30 -0800, Aratzio
wrote:

I would imagine (aren't they sulfides?)

Almost. Sulfites. Sulfates are the salts of sulfuric acid, H2S04,
while sulfites are the salts of sulfurous acid, H2S03. Fume anything
wet with burning sulfur, and it develops a coating of sulfurous acid.

Casady