Cinnabar: The mercury mineral cinnabar: information and pictures USES Cinnabar is the most common mercury mineral and is the chief ore of that metal . It is mined extensively for the production of mercury. Aesthetic crystals of Cinnabar, especially those from China, are very popular among mineral collectors. Cinnabar has been historically used as a vermilion pigment. NOTEWORTHY LOCALITIES The finest Cinnabar crystals in the form of intensely-red bright transparent crystals come from China at Tongren, Guizhou Province, at the specific deposits of Wanshan, Yanwuping, and Yunchangping. Similar crystals occur nearby at the Chatian mine near Fenghuang, Xiangxi, Hunan Province. Almaden, Ciudad Real, Spain, is probably the most historic (as well as one of the most important) localities for Cinnabar. Specimens from that locality usually massive , but crystals have also been found, and it has also produced specimens in association with small Native Mercury blobs.

Other important deposits include Idria, Slovenia; Rudňany, Slovakia; Nikitovka (Horlivka), Donets'ka Oblast, Ukraine; and Chauvai, Alai Range, Kyrgyzstan. In Mexico, a classic locality is Charcas, San Luis Potosí. The U.S. also contains several important deposits, most notably in the mercury-producing districts of California and Nevada. California deposits include the New Almaden District, Santa Clara Co.; and New Idria and Mount Diablo, Diablo Range, San Benito / Contra Costa Counties. Nevada deposits include the Cahill Mine, Poverty Peak, Humboldt Co.; and Antelope Springs, Pershing Co. Other occurences include Terlingua, Brewster Co., Texas; and Kirby, Pike Co., Arkansas.

Cinnabar - definition of cinnabar by The Free Dictionary Cinnabar - definition of cinnabar by The Free Dictionary Related to cinnabar: cinnabar moth cin·na·bar [Middle English cinabare, from Latin cinnabaris, from Greek kinnabari.] cin′na·bar′ine (-bär′ĭn, -īn, -bə-rīn′) adj. cinnabar (ˈsɪnəˌbɑː) n 1. (Minerals) a bright red or brownish-red mineral form of mercuric sulphide (mercury(II) sulphide), found close to areas of volcanic activity and hot springs. It is the main commercial source of mercury. Formula: HgS. Crystal structure: hexagonal 2. (Elements & Compounds) the red form of mercuric sulphide (mercury(II) sulphide), esp when used as a pigment 3. (Colours) a bright red to reddish-orange; vermilion 4.

(Animals) a large red-and-black European moth, Callimorpha jacobaeae: family Arctiidae (tiger moths, etc) [C15: from Old French cenobre, from Latin cinnābaris, from Greek kinnabari, of Oriental origin] cin•na•bar (ˈsɪn əˌbɑr) n. 1. a mineral, mercuric sulfide, HgS, occurring in red crystals or masses: the principal ore of mercury. 2. red mercuric sulfide, used as a pigment. 3. bright red; vermilion. [1350–1400; < Middle English cynoper < Medieval Latin, Latin cinnabaris < Greek kinnábari] cin`na•bar′ine (-aɪn, -ɪn) cin`na•bar′ic (-ˈbær ɪk) adj. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: Ore minerals Short Courses IMPORTANT ORE MINERALS Most elements need to be concentrated into amounts that can be economically mined from ore deposits (usually hundreds to thousands of times their crustal abundance).

This concentration is usually accomplished by dissolution of the element by hot water (hydrothermal ore deposits - gold, silver, lead), preferential crystallization from magmas (chromite deposits or pegmatites), surface weathering and leaching (aluminum, nickel, copper), or gravity separation of minerals during erosion (gold, diamonds, titanium). In the majority of cases there are only one or two minerals that provide all of a particular element for commercial uses. Some elements in low concentrations (substituting in minor amounts for the major elements) are associated with minerals that are mined for other elements, but the shear volumes of materials that are processed result in a valuable byproduct (i e. elements associated with copper, lead, and zinc ores). Some elements are so valuable that almost any mineral containing that element in sufficient grades can be mined (gold, silver, platinum group). ELEMENTS Aluminum - The ore is mined from rocks that have been exposed to weathering in a tropical environment, bauxite. The main ore minerals in bauxite are gibbsite, bohmeite, and diaspore. Antimony - The primary ore of antimony is it's sulfide, stibnite.

Arsenic - Recovered from other metal processing streams (primarily from the sulfosalts such as tennantite etc.). Arsenopyrite is the most common arsenic mineral. The relatively low demand for arsenic as compared to the amount of arsenic mined that is associated with other metals means it can be supplied from the waste streams of other ore processing. Barium - The chief source of barium is barite with minor production of witherite. Beryllium - The major ore mineral for beryllium in the U.S. is bertrandite while worldwide the major source is from pegmatites that contain beryl. Bismuth - Primarily a byproduct of lead processing. Also found in a number of minerals such as bismuthinite and as a constituent in various sulfosalts. Boron - Chief source is playa lake deposits of borax, colemanite, kernite, ulexite. Bromine - Chief sources are brines from wells and Dead Sea. Cadmium - Unlike many other commodities cadmium is produced as a byproduct of zinc (sphalerite) mining. Cesium - The major ore mineral is pollucite, a pegmatite mineral.

Production and use of this metal is extremely small (a few thousand kilograms per year). Chlorine - Produced from the mineral halite (rock salt). Chromium - The chief source is the mineral chromite which is found in large layered intrusives and serpentine bodies. Cobalt - The primary minerals for cobalt is cobaltite. Some cobalt is also produced from weathered tropical orebodies. Columbium (see Niobium) Copper - Most copper ore bodies are mined from minerals created by weathering of the primary copper ore mineral chalcopyrite. Minerals in the enriched zone include chalcocite, bornite, djurleite. Minerals in the oxidized zones include malachite, azurite, chyrsocolla, cuprite, tenorite, native copper and brochantite. Gallium - A byproduct of zinc and alumina processing. Some primary "ore" may contain up to 200 ppm. Ga. Germanium - A byproduct of zinc ore processing. Also a deposit in China is associated with coal. Gold - The primary mineral of gold is the native metal and electrum (a gold-silver alloy).

Some tellurides are also important ore minerals such as calaverite, sylvanite, and petzite. Hafnium - Primary ore mineral is zircon. Indium - Primarily is a byproduct of zinc processing. Iodine - Initial production was from seaweed. Iodine is extracted from natural gas field brines (up to 1200 ppm iodine in the brines). Iron - Two major minerals in the production of iron are it's oxides, hematite and magnetite. These are found in preCambrian iron formations. Historically there was also production from goethite and siderite. The iron sulfides (pyrite and pyrrhotite) were not used as iron sources due to the difficulty of removing sulfur from the metals and the brittleness this sulfur caused in the metal. Lead - The primary ore mineral for lead is it's sulfide - galena. Some minor production from the past has come from secondary lead minerals - cerussite and anglesite. Lithium - The former primary ore minerals were pegmatite deposits of spodumene, lepidolite, and petalite, amblygonite. Currently the major U. S.

production is from lithium carbonate brines. Magnesium - Although magnesium is found in many minerals, only dolomite, magnesite, brucite, carnallite, and olivine are of commercial importance. Magnesium and other magnesium compounds are also produced from seawater, well and lake brines and bitterns. Manganese - The primary ores are oxides/hydroxides of manganese which include minerals such as hausmannite, pyrolusite, braunite, manganite, etc. and the carbonate, rhodochrosite. A large potential source is the deep sea manganese nodules. Mercury - The main ore is the sulfide, cinnabar. Molybdenum - The primary ore mineral is molybdenite. Nickel - The primary nickel ores are pentlandite, nickel bearing pyrrhotite and a weathering product, garnierite (a mixture of nÃ©pouite, pecoraite and willemseite). Niobium (Columbium) - The primary ore mineral is pyrochlore with minor columbite and tantalite-columbite.

Phosphorus - Main ore minerals are in the apatite group of minerals (hydroxylapatite, fluorapatite, chlorapatite). Platinum group (Platinum, Osmium, Rhodium, Ruthenium, Palladium) - The primary ores are the native elements or alloys of the various elements or arsenides such as sperrylite. They tend to occur in layered intrusives associated with chromite deposits. Potassium (potash) - The primary ore minerals are sylvite (primarily), brines, and langbeinite. Rare Earth elements (cerium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, holmium, lanthanium, lutetium, neodymium, praseodymium, samarium, scandium, terbium, thulium, ytterbium, yttrium) The major ore minerals containing rare earth elements are bastnasite, monazite, and loparite and the lateritic ion-adsorption clays. Major U.S. production of bastnesite is from Mountain Pass, California. Rhenium - Produced as a byproduct of molybdenite.

Rubidium - Substitutes for potassium in lepidolite and pollucite. Production is small (a few thousand kilograms per year). Scandium (see Rare Earth) Cinnabar: A toxic ore of mercury, once used as a pigment Cinnabar A toxic mercury sulfide mineral. The primary ore of mercury, once used as a pigment. Cinnabar: Massive cinnabar showing its characteristic red color and dull luster. Some contamination by clay. Photograph by H. Zell, used here under a GNU Free Documentation License . What is Cinnabar? Cinnabar is a toxic mercury sulfide mineral with a chemical composition of HgS. It is the only important ore of mercury. It has a bright red color that has caused people to use it as a pigment and carve it into jewelry and ornaments for thousands of years in many parts of the world. Because it is toxic, its pigment and jewelry uses have almost been discontinued. Cinnabar in sediment porosity: Cinnabar sometimes precipitates from fluids moving through the porosity of a sediment or a sedimentary rock.

In those cases it can infill the pore spaces as a weak "cement." Photo © iStockphoto, only_fabrizio. Geologic Occurrence of Cinnabar Cinnabar is a hydrothermal mineral that precipitates from ascending hot waters and vapors as they move through fractured rocks . It forms at shallow depths where temperatures are less than about 200 degrees Celsius. It usually forms in rocks surrounding geologically recent volcanic activity but can also form near hot springs and fumaroles. Cinnabar precipitates as coatings on rock surfaces and as fracture fillings. Less often, cinnabar can be deposited in the pore spaces of sediments. It is usually massive in habit and is rarely found as well-formed crystals. Other sulfide minerals are generally found associated with cinnabar. These can include pyrite , marcasite , realgar , and stibnite. Gangue minerals associated with cinnabar include quartz , dolomite , calcite , and barite . Small droplets of liquid mercury are sometimes present on or near cinnabar. Cinnabar crystals: Bright red cinnabar crystals on a dolomite matrix. Crystals are about 1.3 centimeters in height, from Hunan, China.

Specimen and photo by Arkenstone / . Properties of Cinnabar The most striking property of cinnabar is its red color. Its bright color makes it easy to spot in the field and is a fascination for those who discover it. It has a Mohs hardness of 2 to 2.5 and is very easily ground into a very fine powder. It has a specific gravity of 8.1, which is extremely high for a nonmetallic mineral. The luster of cinnabar ranges from dull to adamantine. Specimens with a dull luster are usually massive, contain abundant impurities and do not have the brilliant red color of pure cinnabar. Adamantine specimens are usually the rarely-found crystals. Physical Properties of Cinnabar Trigonal Uses The only important ore of mercury. Its use as a pigment, gem, and ornamental carving material has declined due to toxicity. Metacinnabar: Crystals of metacinnabar on a rock surface. Specimen is from the Mount Diablo mine, Contra Costa County, California. Specimen is about 3.3 x 2.1 x 2.0 centimeters in size. Specimen and photo by Arkenstone / .

Metacinnabar Metacinnabar is a polymorph of cinnabar. It has the same chemical composition (HgS) as cinnabar but a different crystal structure. Cinnabar is trigonal, while metacinnabar is isometric. The two minerals should not be confused with one another because metacinnabar has a metallic gray color, a gray-to-black streak and a metallic-to-submetallic luster. Chinese red (cinnabar) lacquer box: A carved wooden box with a red lacquer finish from China's Ming Dynasty Period (box c. 1522-1566). Boxes like this were frequently painted with a lacquer containing a cinnabar pigment. Mercury still: Textbook sketch of a still used for the distillation of mercury from cinnabar. Public domain image from Alchimia, Anonymous, 1570. Uses of Cinnabar Cinnabar is the only important ore of mercury. For thousands of years, cinnabar has been mined and heated in a furnace. The mercury escapes as a vapor that can be condensed into liquid mercury.

People began using cinnabar for pigments thousands of years ago in Italy, Greece, Spain, China, Turkey, and the Mayan countries of South America. Through time, people in almost every country where volcanoes are present discovered cinnabar and realized its utility as a pigment. Cinnabar is one of a very small number of minerals that was independently discovered, processed and utilized by ancient people in many parts of the world. Cinnabar was mined at the volcano, ground into a very fine powder and then mixed with liquids to produce many types of paint. The bright red pigments known as "vermilion" and "Chinese red" were originally made from cinnabar. Cinnabar has been especially popular for making red lacquer in China. Its use in lacquer has declined because of its toxicity, but some use of cinnabar in lacquer continues. Cinnabar has also been used in powdered form for ritual blessings and burials. Powdered cinnabar was used as a cosmetic in many parts of the world for thousands of years. Eventually it was discovered that cinnabar is toxic, and its use in pigments, paints, and cosmetics began to decline.

Today most, but not all, items made and sold under the name "cinnabar" have been made with less toxic and nontoxic imitation materials. Antique items made with toxic mineral cinnabar are still found in the marketplace. Mercury switch: Mercury has the ability to conduct electricity and flow under the influence of gravity. This switch is currently in the "off" position, but if it is moved so that the mercury runs to the right, surrounding the two wires, the circuit will be connected and the switch will be in the "on" position. Photo by Medvedev, used here under a Creative Commons license . The best way to learn about minerals is to study with a collection of small specimens that you can handle, examine, and observe their properties. Inexpensive mineral collections are available in the Geology.com Store . Uses of Mercury Because cinnabar is the only important ore of mercury, the demand for mercury has driven mining activity. Mercury has many uses, but its toxicity has reduced its use in any application where reasonable substitutes can be found. Large amounts of mercury are currently used in the chemical industry in the production of chlorine and caustic soda during the electrolysis of brine.

Mercury was widely used in temperature- and pressure-measuring instruments such as thermometers and barometers. It was often used in gravity switches because it flowed easily as a liquid and conducted electricity. Most of these uses have been discontinued. Mercury is currently used in some batteries and light bulbs, but their disposal is often regulated. Because it is toxic, it was once widely used to protect seed corn from fungus and to deworm materials used to make felt. It was used in dental amalgam but is being replaced by polymer resins and other materials. In almost all of its use, mercury is being replaced with less toxic and nontoxic substitutes. Mercury has been widely used in mining to separate gold and silver from ores and stream sediments. Large amounts of mercury were spilled during these operations, and today, mercury used in the 1800s is still being recovered from streams. Ore of Mercury - Redorbit Ore of Mercury Mercury (element) Mercury, also called quicksilver, is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Hg (from the Greek hydrargyrum, for watery (or liquid) silver) and atomic number 80.

A heavy, silvery, transition metal, mercury is one of only two elements that are liquid at room temperature (the other is bromine). Mercury is used in thermometers, barometers and other scientific apparatuses. Mercury is mostly obtained by reduction from the mineral cinnabar. Notable characteristics Mercury is a relatively poor conductor of heat but is a good conductor of electricity. Mercury easily forms alloys with almost all common metals, including gold, aluminium, and silver, but not iron. Tellurium forms an alloy also, but it reacts slowly to form mercury telluride. The reaction of mercury with sulfur is more easily noticed. Any of these alloys is called an amalgam. This metal also has uniform volumetric thermal expansion, is less reactive than zinc and cadmium and does not displace hydrogen from acids. Common oxidation states of this element are +1 and +2. Rare instances of +3 mercury compounds exist. The commercial unit for handling mercury is the “flask,” which weighs 76 lb (34.5 kg). Applications Mercury is used primarily for the manufacture of industrial chemicals or for electrical and electronic applications.

It is used in some thermometers, especially ones which are used to measure high temperatures (Non-prescription sale of mercury fever thermometers was banned by the U.S. Senate in 2002). Other uses: – Mercury sphygmomanometers (banned in some states and hospitals). – Thimerosal, an organic compound used as a preservative in vaccines and tattoo inks (Thimerosal in vaccines ( – Mercury barometers, diffusion pumps, coulometers, and many other laboratory instruments. – The triple point of mercury, -38.8344 Â°C, is a fixed point used as a temperature standard for the International Temperature Scale (ITS-90). – In some gaseous electron tubes, mercury arc rectifier – Gaseous mercury is used in mercury-vapor lamps and some “neon sign” type advertising signs and fluorescent lamps. – Mercury was once used in the amalgamation process of refining gold and silver ores. The practice is continued by the garimpeiros (gold miners) of the Amazon basin in Brazil. – Mercury is still used in some cultures for folk medicine and ceremonial purposes which may involve ingestion, injection, or the sprinkling of elemental mercury around the home.

Miscellaneous uses: mercury switches, mercury cells for sodium hydroxide and chlorine production, electrodes in some types of electrolysis, batteries (mercury cells), and catalysts, herbicides (discontinued in 1995), insecticides, and dental amalgams/preparations. Historical uses: preserving wood, developing daguerreotypes, “silvering” mirrors, anti-fouling paints (discontinued in 1990), cleaning, and in road leveling devices in cars. Mercury compounds have been used in antiseptics, laxatives, antidepressants, and antisyphilitics. Mercury was known to the ancient Chinese and Hindus and was found in Egyptian tombs that date from 1500 BCE. In China, India and Tibet, mercury use was thought to prolong life, heal fractures, and maintain generally good health. The ancient Greeks used mercury in ointments and the Romans used it in cosmetics. By 500 BCE mercury was used to make amalgams with other metals. The Indian word for alchemy is “Rassayana” which means “˜the way of mercury.’ Alchemists thought of mercury as the first matter from which all metals were formed.

Different metals could be produced by varying the quality and quantity of sulfur contained within the mercury. An ability to transform mercury into any metal resulted from the essentially mercurial quality of all metals. The purest of these was gold, and mercury was required for the transmutation of base (or impure) metals into gold. This was a primary goal of alchemy, either for material or spiritual gain. Hg is the modern chemical symbol for mercury. It comes from hydrargyrum, a Latinised form of the Greek word hydrargyros, which is a compound word meaning ‘water’ and ‘silver’ “” since it is liquid, like water, and yet has a silvery metallic sheen. The element was named after the Roman god Mercury, known for speed and mobility. It is associated with the planet Mercury. The astrological symbol for the planet is also one of the alchemical symbols for the metal (left). Mercury is the only metal for which the alchemical planetary name became the common name. From the mid-18th to the mid-19th centuries, a process called “carroting” was used in the making of felt hats.

Animal skins were rinsed in an orange solution of the mercury compound mercuric nitrate, Hg(NO3)2″¢2H2O. This process separated the fur from the pelt and matted it together. This solution and the vapors it produced were highly toxic. Its use resulted in widespread cases of mercury poisoning among hatters. Symptoms included tremors, emotional lability, insomnia, dementia and hallucinations. The United States Public Health Service banned the use of mercury in the felt industry in December 1941. The psychological symptoms associated with mercury poisoning may have inspired the simile “mad as a hatter”, and thereby the Mad Hatter of Alice in Wonderland fame. Dentistry Elemental mercury is the main ingredient in dental amalgams. Controversy over the health effects from the use of mercury amalgams began shortly after its introduction into the western world, nearly 200 years ago. In 1843, The American Society of Dental Surgeons, concerned about mercurial poisoning, required its members to sign a pledge that they would not use amalgam.

In 1859, The American Dental Association was formed by dentists who believed amalgam was, “safe and effective.” The ADA, “continues to believe that amalgam is a valuable, viable and safe choice for dental patients,” as written in their statement on dental amalgam ( . In 1993, the United States Public Health Service reported that, “amalgam fillings release small amounts of mercury vapor,” but in such a small amount that it, “has not been shown to cause any “¦ adverse health effects.” In 2002, California became the first state to ban the future use of mercury fillings (effective 2006). As of 2005, the controversy continues. Medicine Mercury was used in the treatment of illnesses for centuries. Mercury(I) chloride and mercury(II) chloride were popular compounds. Mercury was included in the treatment of syphilis as early as the 16th century, before the advent of antibiotics.

“Blue mass,” a small pill in which mercury is the main ingredient, was prescribed throughout the 1800s for numerous conditions including, constipation, depression, child-bearing and toothaches (National Geographic ( In the early 20th century, mercury was administered to children yearly as a laxative and dewormer. It was a teething powder for infants and some vaccines have contained the preservative Thimerosal (partly ethyl mercury) since the 1930s (FDA report ( Mercury(II) chloride was a disinfectant for doctors, patients and instruments. Mercuric medicines and devices are inherently hazardous. Neither are used to the extent they were in the past. Thermometers and sphygmomanometers containing mercury were invented in the early 18th and late 19th centuries, respectively. In the early 21st century, their use is declining and has been banned in some countries, states and medical institutions. In 2002, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to phase out the sale of non-prescription mercury thermometers.

In 2003, Washington and Maine became the first states to ban mercury blood pressure devices (HCWH News release ( In 2005, mercury compounds are found in some OTC medications, including, topical antiseptics, stimulant laxatives, diaper rash ointment, eye drops and nose sprays. The FDA has “inadequate data to establish general recognition of the safety and effectiveness,” of the mercury ingredients in these products (Code of federal regulations ( Mineral occurrence A rare element in the earth’s crust, mercury is found either as a native metal (rare) or in cinnabar, corderoite, livingstonite, and other minerals with cinnabar (HgS) being the most common ore. Approximately 50% of the global supply comes from Spain and Italy, with much of the rest coming from Slovenia, Russia, and North America. The metal is extracted by heating cinnabar in a current of air and condensing the vapor Compounds Cinnabar: Cinnabar mineral information and data. Principal ore of mercury. Used as a cosmetic pigment in ancient times.

References for Cinnabar Reference List: Theophrastus (315 BC) Cinnabar. in: Caley, E.R., Richards, J.F.C. (1956) Theoprastus On Stones. Introduction, Greek text, English translation and commentary, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. Hoffmann, C.A.S (1789) Mineralsystem des Herrn Inspektor Werners mit dessen Erlaubnis herausgegeben von C.A.S. Hoffmann. Bergmännisches Journal: 10(1): 369-398. Durand, F.E. (1873) Note on crystals of quartz of a red color, by the interposition of cinnabar. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, ser. 1: 4(1): 211. Schrauf, A. (1894) Aphorismen über Zinnobar. Zeitschrift für Praktische Geologie: 10-18. Auvray, P., Genet, F.

(1973) Affinement de la structure cristalline du cinabre α-HgS. Bulletin de Mineralogie et de Cristallographie: 96: 218-219. Palache, C., Berman, H., Frondel, C. (1944) The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 834pp.: 251-255. Potter, R.W., Barnes, H.L. (1978) Phase relations in the binary Hg-S. American Mineralogist: 63: 1143-1152. McCormack, J.K. (2000) The darkening of cinnabar in sunlight. Mineralium Deposita: 35(8): 796-798. Frost, R.L., Martens, W.N., Kloprogge, J.T.

(2002) Raman spectroscopic study of cinnabar (HgS), realgar (As4S4), and orpiment (As2S3) at 298 and 77K. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte: 2002: 469-480. Borisov, S.V., Magarill, S.A., Pervukhina, N.V. (2009) Characteristic features of crystal chemistry of natural mercury-containing sulfides and sulfosalts. Journal of Structural Chemistry: 50: 853-860. Ballirano, P., Botticelli, M., Maras, A. (2013) Thermal behavior of cinnabar, α-HgS, and the kinetics of the β-HgS (metacinnabar) ￫ α-HgS conversion at room temperature. European Journal of Mineralogy: 25: 957-965. Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W. and Nichols, M.C., Eds.

Handbook of Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America, Chantilly, VA 20151-1110, USA. (2016) Internet Links for Cinnabar Mercury | Minerals Education Coalition Not necessary for life. Description Named for the planet Mercury, it is a shiny, silvery, liquid metal, traditionally called “quick silver”. It is the only liquid metal, although gallium and cesium are liquid on hot days (bromine is also a liquid, but it is non-metallic). It has been known to humans for at least 4,000 years. Mercury is a stable metal, not reacting with air, water, most acids and most bases. It is a poor conductor of heat (for a metal) but a good conductor of electricity. Alloys of mercury with other metals are called amalgams. Mercury’s ability to amalgamate with many metals is often useful in purifying the other metal, especially gold. Mercury is used for street lights, advertising lights, fungicides, pesticides, dental preparations, batteries, caustic soda and chlorine production, catalysts, electrical equipment and silent electrical switches.

It is also used where a heavy liquid is needed, such as barometers or thermometers. Mercury is very poisonous, it damages the central nervous system. It is absorbed easily by the body, but cannot be excreted easily. Mercury is volatile and it is possible to breath mercury vapors without ever touching the metal. Mercury must be handled with adequate protection. The symbol for mercury, Hg, comes from mercury’s Latin name hydrargyrum, which means “liquid silver”. Biological Benefits Mercury has no known biological use. However, it is widespread through the biosphere and the food chain. Role in Life Processes No known benefit for life processes in plants and animals. Percentage Amount in the Human Body: 0.000009% Sources Pure mercury is found in volcanic rocks, but mercury usually occurs in the mineral cinnabar (mercury sulfide). Cinnabar is mined in Russia, Mexico, Spain and Algeria. Cinnabars - definition of cinnabars by The Free Dictionary Cinnabars - definition of cinnabars by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Thesaurus , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia .

cin·na·bar [Middle English cinabare, from Latin cinnabaris, from Greek kinnabari.] cin′na·bar′ine (-bär′ĭn, -īn, -bə-rīn′) adj. cinnabar (ˈsɪnəˌbɑː) n 1. (Minerals) a bright red or brownish-red mineral form of mercuric sulphide (mercury(II) sulphide), found close to areas of volcanic activity and hot springs. It is the main commercial source of mercury. Formula: HgS. Crystal structure: hexagonal 2. (Elements & Compounds) the red form of mercuric sulphide (mercury(II) sulphide), esp when used as a pigment 3. (Colours) a bright red to reddish-orange; vermilion 4.

(Animals) a large red-and-black European moth, Callimorpha jacobaeae: family Arctiidae (tiger moths, etc) [C15: from Old French cenobre, from Latin cinnābaris, from Greek kinnabari, of Oriental origin] cin•na•bar (ˈsɪn əˌbɑr) n. 1. a mineral, mercuric sulfide, HgS, occurring in red crystals or masses: the principal ore of mercury. 2. red mercuric sulfide, used as a pigment. 3. bright red; vermilion. [1350–1400; < Middle English cynoper < Medieval Latin, Latin cinnabaris < Greek kinnábari] cin`na•bar′ine (-aɪn, -ɪn) cin`na•bar′ic (-ˈbær ɪk) adj. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: :: WorstPolluted.org : Projects Reports 1.5 Million Description Mining and ore processing occurs throughout the world and consists of extracting minerals, metals, and gems from surrounding earth and ore.

Industrial mines vary in size, with some being quite small operations and others very large. Many large-scale mines also have ore processing facilities where extracted ore is sent for crushing, washing, and various physical or chemical separation processes. Not all mined materials are dangerous, but many heavy metals and naturally radioactive materials that are removed from the earth can be very hazardous to human health. In addition to active mines, there are a large number of inactive and abandoned mining sites throughout the world that still contain large levels of contaminants and pose dangers to local communities. Populations estimates are preliminary and based on an ongoing global assessment of known polluted sites. Industrial Process Elemental mercury occurs naturally in the earth and is a liquid metal. Most mercury forms in a sulfide ore called cinnabar, but mercury is also frequently found in small amounts in other ores. A common method for separating mercury from cinnabar is to crush the ore and then heat it in a furnace in order to vaporize the mercury. This vapor is then condensed into liquid mercury form. If done improperly, mercury vapor, which is highly toxic, can escape into the atmosphere. Waste rock and tailings from mercury mining, and other extraction processes where mercury is uncovered, can still contain small or large amounts of the toxic substance.

Mercury that is not processed or claimed during mining and ore processing can make its way into the environment if the mining waste is not stored properly. Mercury is also extensively used in the gold mining process as an amalgam for separating gold from ore. When mercury is combined with gold silt, it causes a reaction that separates the gold from the ore. This amalgam is then heated in order to evaporate the mercury and leave the gold pieces. If done without the proper safety equipment, this process can release mercury vapor into the air and can also discharge various amounts of liquid mercury into the surrounding area. Global Context Mercury is uncovered and used in a number of mining processes. It is mined as a primary element for use in materials such as thermometers and fluorescent light bulbs, it can be commonly found in the ore of other mined materials, and it is frequently used in the gold mining process as an amalgam for the separation of gold from ore. Thus, mercury contamination is associated with a large variety of different mining and ore processing activities throughout the world. Due to its large health risk, international negotiations are ongoing to globally ban the use of mercury in the years to come (Mercury Convention).

Currently, the Blacksmith inventory estimates that over 1.5 million people are affected by mercury pollution from mining and ore processing, with most pollution problems of this nature occurring in Southeast Asia and Africa. Exposure Pathways Waste rock and tailings that are created during the mining and ore refining process can release toxins into the environment if not stored or disposed of properly. In many cases, waste rock and tailings are left out in the open where they are exposed to the elements, and mercury can be washed into water systems by rainfall, or can leach into the soil. Mercury that is used as an amalgam in gold mining can also be released into the environment as vapor and elemental mercury. When mercury enters water systems, it can bioaccumulate in the bodies of aquatic animals, where it becomes organic, or methylmercury. When ingested, methylmercury can be very hazardous to human health. Health Effects The health hazards that result from exposure to mercury depend on the level of exposure and the way in which the pollutant enters the body. Inhalation of mercury vapor is particularly hazardous for kidneys, the central nervous system, and the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

15 Inhalation of mercury vapor has also been found to cause neurobehavioral disorders, such as hand tremor and mental retardation. Exposure to other forms of mercury – and in particular the methylmercury that accumulates in fish – can also lead to problems with the kidneys, lungs, and central nervous system, in addition to arthritis, reproductive problems, loss of memory, psychosis, and in some cases, death. Children exposed to mercury contamination have a higher risk of developmental complications. What is Being Done An important step in curbing the pollution created by mining and ore processing is to work with mines and governments to improve mining equipment and environmental regulation. Many pollution problems occur due to a lack of set environmental and health standards, or, when laws do exist, weak enforcement and compliance procedures. However, if local governments and organizations put pressure on mines to decrease their emissions, this can be effective in terms of getting companies to institute new policies or set up new infrastructure, such as wastewater treatment facilities or more effective tailing storage areas. Example – DALY Calculations A small town in the mountains of Chile has been the site of large-scale gold and copper mining since 1891.

Air pollution in this region is so severe that the government classified the town as a “Saturated Zone” – indicating the dangers of breathing the air around the mine. Samples taken around the site found 100 micrograms per cubic meter of mercury in the air, which is 100 times higher than the WHO health standard. Blacksmith estimates that 20,000 people may be affected by this pollution. DALYs associated with adverse health impacts from atmospheric mercury exposure at this site are estimated to be 716,950 for the estimated exposed population of 20,000. This means that the approximately 20,000 affected people will have a collective 716,950 years lost to death, or impacted by disease or disability. This comes out to 28.7 years lost or lived with a disability per person. Footnotes: [15]: “Toxicological Profile for Mercury.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. March, 1999. Available at: .

Top Ten Toxic Pollution Problems Extraction of Mercury EXTRACTION OF MERCURY Most of the world's mercury is obtained from its main ore, cinnabar or vermillion with the chemical structure mercury sulphide (HgS). Cinnabar is usually found in a massive or granular form but can also occur as small crystals shown below. This ore is bright red in colour and small droplets of mercury metal can sometimes be found within the ore itself. The main areas for cinnabar mining are in Italy and Spain which provide 50% of the worlds mercury. CINNABAR IN ITS MASSIVE FORM CINNABAR IN ITS CRYSTAL FORM materials_list.htm cinnabar_ru_pic.htm Mercury can be obtained from cinnabar by heating the cinnabar ore in a current of air and condensing the mercury vapour formed. Due to its relatively low boiling point mercury can be easily purified by vacuum distillation. The reaction of mercury sulphide with oxygen is shown below: HgS + O2 → Hg + SO2 Other processes for the removal of mercury from cinnabar are also known and the reactions are shown below: HgS + Fe → Hg + FeS

Question: Cinnabar is the chief ore of which metallic element?
Answer: Mercury