CALOMEL with AZURITE, MALACHITE CINNABAR and NATIVE MERCURY

SPECIMEN DESCRIPTION

From the famous Landsberg (Moschellandsberg) mercury mining district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, a large miniature featuring Calomel with Azurite, Malachite, Cinnabar and Native Mercury. Calomel is a rare mercury chloride and forms translucent, creamy white granular patches and in one area, elongated crystals with an acicular habit. The Cinnabar forms sharp trigonal crystals with a metallic, black to very dark grey oxidation coatings Examination of the matrix surface also reveals micro-spherules of liquid Native Mercury, although the amount visible is dependent on room temperature. The warmer the atmosphere, the more the mercury expands, so increasing in volume and exuding from pore space within the matrix. Adding to the remarkable mineralogy of this specimen are patches of azure blue Azurite and several tiny patches of mid-green Malachite. This specimen is accompanied with two labels, one typed and one handwritten and extremely old in appearance. For any specimens containing mercury and or mercury bearing minerals, it is a sensible precaution to always wash your hands after handling.