PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- GROUP Sulfides
- COMPOSITION HgS
- COLOR Red-cochineal, scarlet
- CRYSTALLINE SYSTEM Hexagonal / trigonal
- CRYSTALLINE HABIT Trigonal
- HARDNESS 2 - 2.5
- FRACTURE From subconchoidal to unequal
- EXFOLIATION Perfect
- GLOSS From adamantine to matte
- STRIP Scarlet
- TRANSPARENCY From transparent to opaque
- SPECIFIC GRAVITY 8.0
MINERALOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Cinnabar is a mercury sulfide, the most important mercury ore. It generally forms massive or granular aggregates and rarely forms crystals. Its name comes from Persian "zinjirfrah" and Arabic "zinjafr", meaning "dragon blood". It appears in hydrothermal veins and near volcanic rocks. One of the oldest deposits is that of Almadén, in Ciudad Real, Spain, where it has been mined for about 2,000 years. Cinnabar has been used as a pigment since ancient times. Currently it is no longer used as a pigment due to its toxicity.
Deposits: Spain, China, Peru, California and the United States.
THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES
The cinnabar is considered a stone of prosperity and abundance. It is usually indicated to promote business and for professional and work advancement in a dignified manner. It favors mental fluidity and enhances cohesion and strength.
