CINNABAR

SPECIMEN DESCRIPTION

This miniature specimen is a pure dense mass of red Cinnabar from the classic European mercury-producing region at Landsberg (Moschellandsberg), Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. There are no obvious crystals, but the specimen is a great example of how rich the mercury ore was and shows the contrast between darker, weathered surfaces of Cinnabar, and the vivid red 'vermillion' colour where it has been contacted. There are no old accompanying labels but this specimen was part of a large historic mercury minerals suite.