Images
Formula: HgS
Sulphide
Crystal System: Trigonal
Specific gravity: 8.176 measured, 8.20 calculated
Hardness: 2 2½
Streak: Red
Colour: Red
Solubility: Insoluble in hydrochloric acid, sulphuric and nitric acid
Environments:
Metamorphic environments
Hydrothermal environments
Fumeroles and Hot Spring deposits
Cinnabar occurs in the oxidation zone of epithermal (low temperature) hydrothermal veins, at fumeroles, and
also in hot springs.
It may be associated with
baryte,
native mercury,
pyrite,
marcasite,
opal,
quartz,
realgar,
stibnite, and sulphides of copper.
Cinnabar is the most important ore of mercury but is found in
quantity at comparatively few locations.
At the Rutland Cavern, Heights of Abraham, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, England, UK, cinnabar has been found
associated with
smithsonite, and as minute specks dusting the surface of both
smithsonite and fluorite
(RES p51).
Back to Minerals