Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2006-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
cinnabar

Chemical Group:    sulfide

Chemical Formula:    HgS

Color:  conchineal red to brownish red                    Streak:  scarlet red

Luster:  adamantine, sometimes metallic, dull

Hardness:  2 to 2.5        Specific Gravity:  8.09                  Fracture:

Cleavage:  parallel to hexagonal prism faces

Crystal Forms and Habits:  Trigonal system

Mineral Associations:  opal, chalcedony, calcite, pyrite, marcasite

Identifying Characteristics:  color, density

Uses:  ore of mercury

Occurrences: 

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- very high          when inhaled- very high

Additional Information: