Cinnabar

Cinnabar is a scarlet to brick red crystalline form of mercury sulfide, used as an ore of mercury.

It is toxic and should be handled with care.

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Information about Cinnabar

Appearance

Cinnabar is a beautiful scarlet red mineral which forms in rhombohedral and tabular crystal forms, as well as granular crystals and massive lumps.


Uses and History

Cinnabar is the most common ore source for elemental Mercury refining, and has been mined since the neolithic for its mercury – and for its processed form, quicksilver.

Cinnabar has been used since antiquity as a pigment, particularly in China and the new world – the Olmec and Maya civilisations used it to decorate the tombs of royalty.

The bright red pigment known as ‘vermilion’ was originally made from cinnabar.

Chinese carved lacquerware contains cinnabar, and has been made since around 1000 years ago – although modern pieces tend to use modern resins with the same appearance. Antique pieces labelled as ‘Chinese lacquerware’ in a dark red colour may well contain cinnabar pigments.

 

It was used in Europe too – one of the few occasions when ancient peoples around the world independently began to process and utilise a mineral.

 

Mercury was used in a range of technological industries, including lightbulb making, thermometers, mining, and hat-making, where it was used to make felt. It is likely this is the origin of the phrase ‘as mad as a hatter’, referring to erethism – mercury poisoning – from the chemicals used to produce felt.

 

The first known use of the name is by Theophrastus (c 371-287BC) with the ancient Greek word “κιννάβαρι” (kinnàbari).

 


Mineralogy

Chemistry
Mercury sulphide, with the formula HgS.
Colours and Variations

Dark scarlet red, scarlet red, brown-red, silvery-grey

Streak
Scarlet
Luster
Varies, massive form typically earthy to dull, crystals metallic to adamantine.
Transparency
Transparent to opaque.
Fracture
Uneven, subconchoidal.
Crystal habit
Rhombohedral, tabular, granular, massive, aggregates, crusts, veins. Often striated.
Mohs hardness
2 – 2.5
Fluorescence
Specific Gravity
8 – 8.2
Easiest testing method
Specific gravity/streak most indicative, along with geological origin.

Hazards and Warnings

Cinnabar is extremely toxic and contains Mercury. Handling should be minimised and done with care. This mineral should be kept boxed and well out of reach of children, animals, and irresponsible adults.

 

Mineral collectors should wash their hands after handling specimens, to avoid any exposure to potential toxins.
Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis.

When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.


Translations

Arabic:

  • الزنجفر

Hindi:

  • सिनाबर

Portuguese:

  • Cinábrio

Bengali:

  • সিন্নাবার

Indonesian:

Punjabi:

English:

  • Cinnabar

Italian:

  • Cinabro

Russian:

  • Киноварь

French:

  • Cinabre

Japanese:

  • 辰砂 (しんしゃ)

Spanish:

  • Cinabrio

German:

  • Zinnober

Korean:

  • 신나바

Thai:

  • ซินนาบาร์

Gujurati:

  • सिनाबर

Mandarin Chinese:

  • 辰砂

Urdu:

  • سنابار

Further Reading / External Links