Cinnabar (HgS) is the primary ore of mercury and one of the most visually arresting minerals on Earth — its scarlet-to-vermilion crystals have been mined for pigment, alchemy, and metallurgy for over 3,000 years. China is the world’s leading historical producer, with Wanshan (Guizhou) and Tongren (Guizhou) supplying both industrial mercury and museum-grade collector specimens.
Key Facts
- Mohs hardness 2–2.5 — extremely soft.
- Specific gravity 8.1 — exceptionally heavy for a non-metal-looking specimen.
- Adamantine to dull luster; perfect prismatic cleavage.
- Trigonal system; rhombohedral to thick-tabular crystals are most prized.
- Frequently associated with quartz, calcite, dolomite, stibnite, and realgar.
Notable Chinese Localities
Wanshan Mine (Guizhou) is China’s premier cinnabar source and the type-locality benchmark for sharp rhombohedral crystals on white dolomite matrix. Tongren and Wuchuan (also Guizhou) and Hunan’s Xiangxi belt also produce collector material.
Found at these Localities
- Wanshan Mine (万山汞矿)
- Guizhou (贵州)
- Hunan (湖南)
