Cinabrio
Cinabrio is a mineral with formula HgS, in the Sulfuros group. This specimen comes from El Entredicho, Almadén, Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha, España.
Description
Thumbnail specimen covered in a druzy matrix of micro-cinnabar crystals, topped by a prominently sharp, well-formed major crystal.
About Cinabrio
Cinnabar (HgS) is the principal ore of mercury and the traditional source of vermilion. In alteration zones it may release native mercury as fine metallic droplets. Its symbol Hg comes from hydrargyrum, «water-silver», while quicksilver preserves the idea of «living silver».
About the locality
The Almadén mine represents the world's largest historical mercury-producing district. For over two millennia, it supplied mercury to Europe and, starting in the 16th century, was crucial to American silver mining through the amalgamation process. Today, it holds UNESCO World Heritage status alongside Idrija.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0689
- Composition
- HgS
- Name
- Cinabrio
- Group
- Sulfuros
- Category
- Meritum Persé
- Matrix
- Ferruginosa
- Mine
- El Entredicho
- District / Municipality
- Almadén
- Province
- Ciudad Real
- Region
- Castilla-La Mancha
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 3.2 x 1.5 x 1.5
- Weight
- 10 g
- Etymology
- From the Arabic «zinjafr», itself derived from the Persian «zinjifrah», the historical origin of the name «cinnabar».
- Quality
- Notable
- Value trend
- Al alza
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