Cinnabar
Cinnabar is a mineral. It is the main ore of mercury and is made up of the chemical mercuric sulphide (HgS).
Cinnabar exists in two crystal forms. Red cinnabar is used for the pigment vermilion. It is poisonous, and may go black with age. The other crystal form is black, and does not react chemically to anything except strong acids. Cinnabar has a Mohs hardness of 2–2.5.
Cinnabar Media
Crystal structure of cinnabar: yellow = sulfur, grey = mercury, green = cell
Cinnabar mercury ore from Nevada, United States
Specimen composed of pure cinnabar, with the surface covered in crystals. Being an old specimen, they are partially darkened due to exposure to light. Almadén Mine, (Ciudad Real), Spain. Largest dimension, 6 cm.
Apparatus for the distillation of cinnabar, Alchimia, 1570
References
- ↑ Martín-Gil, J.; Martín-Gil, F. J.; Delibes-de-Castro, G.; Zapatero-Magdaleno, P.; Sarabia-Herrero, F. J. (1995). "The first known use of Vermillion". Experientia. 51 (8): 759–761. doi:10.1007/BF01922425. ISSN 0014-4754. PMID 7649232. S2CID 21900879.
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