Cinnabar Archives - Cochise College Geology

Cinnabar

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Chemical Group: Sulfide

Chemical Formula: HgS

Color: Cochineal red to brownish red

Streak: Scarlet red

Luster: Adamantine, sometimes metallic, dull

Hardness: 2 to 2.5 Specific Gravity: 8.09

Cleavage: Parallel to hexagonal prism faces

Crystal Forms and Habits: Trigonal system

Mineral Associations: Opal, chalcedony, calcite, pyrite, marcasite

Identifying Characteristics: Color, density

Uses: Ore of mercury

Toxicity: When-swallowed: very high When-inhaled: very high

Additional Information: Cinnabar is mercury sulfide and in massive form a bright red color. What catches your attention when you handle it is its high density, about 8 times the density of water or about 3 times the density of common minerals. Cinnabar is also soft and powdery, so don’t lick your fingers after handling it!

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Photos

Cinnabar 1 2 3 4 5 6

cinnabar-bright red-massive — Cinnabar - Bright Red - Massive

cinnabar-red-massive — Cinnabar – Red - Massive

cinnabar-red massive in white quartz — Cinnabar - Red Massive In White Quartz

cinnabar-red patches in yellow common opal — Cinnabar - Red Patches In Yellow Common Opal

cinnabar-red massive on white — Cinnabar - Red Massive On White

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