Cinnabar Mineral Data

Cinnabar Mineral Data +

General Cinnabar Information

Chemical Formula:

HgS

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 232.66 gm

Mercury 86.22 % Hg

Sulfur 13.78 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

HgS

Environment:

Low temperature hydrothermal solutions in veins.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 800

Locality:

Almaden, Spain. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Of uncertain original meaning, from the Latin, cinnabaris.

Synonym:

Cinabre

ICSD 70054

PDF 42-1408

Zinnober

Cinnabar Image

Images:

Cinnabar

Comments: Red single hexagonal (Trigonal) crystal of cinnabar on dolomite.
Location: Fenghuang, Hunan Province, Peoples Republic of China. Scale: Crystal size 1 cm.
© Dave Barthelmy

Images:

Cinnabar Edoylerite

Comments: Yellow prismatic crystals of edoylerite with red cinnabar.
Location: Clear Creek Claim (Clear Creek Mine), New Idria district, San Benito Co., California, USA. Scale: Picture size 1 mm.
© Thomas Witzke / Abraxas-Verlag

Cinnabar Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:2.2885

Cell Dimensions:

a = 4.149, c = 9.495, Z = 3; V = 141.55 Den(Calc)= 8.19

Crystal System:

Trigonal - TrapezohedralH-M Symbol (3 2) Space Group: P 3₁21,P 3₂21

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.35(1), 2.863(0.95), 1.98(0.35),

Forms:

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Forms: [ 1 0 0] [ 2 0 5]

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Crystal Structure:

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Ramsdell L S , American Mineralogist , 10 (1925) p.281-304, The crystal structures of some metallic sulfides

Physical Properties of Cinnabar

Cleavage:

[1010] Perfect

Color:

Lead gray, Brown, Brown pink, Vermilion, Gray.

Density:

8.1

Diaphaniety:

Transparent to translucent to opaque

Fracture:

Brittle - Sectile - Brittle fracture with slightly sectile shavings possible.

Habit:

Disseminated - Occurs in small, distinct particles dispersed in matrix.

Habit:

Druse - Crystal growth in a cavity which results in numerous crystal tipped surfaces.

Habit:

Massive - Uniformly indistinguishable crystals forming large masses.

Hardness:

2-2.5 - Gypsum-Finger Nail

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Adamantine

Streak:

bright red

Optical Properties of Cinnabar

Dichroism (e):

cochineal red.

Dichroism (w):

cochineal red.

Optical Data:

Uniaxial (+), w=2.905, e=3.256, bire=0.3510.

RL Anisotrophism:

High.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Cinnabar in Air**
λ	R₁	R₂	∑ R₁(λ)	∑ R₂(λ)
400 nm	36.30	37.80
420 nm	34.40	35.60
440 nm	32.50	33.20
460 nm	31.20	31.80
480 nm	30.30	30.90
500 nm	29.60	30.20
520 nm	28.90	29.70
540 nm	28.40	29.20
560 nm	28.00	28.80
580 nm	27.70	28.50
600 nm	27.50	28.30
620 nm	27.20	28.00
640 nm	26.90	27.70
660 nm	26.60	27.40
680 nm	26.30	27.00
700 nm	26.20	26.80

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Cinnabar in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	40%	80%	100%	120%	160%	200%	240%	280%	320%
R₁
R₂

Calculated Properties of Cinnabar

Electron Density:

r_electron=6.76 gm/cc
note: r_Cinnabar=8.19 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.26141
Boson Index = 0.73859

Photoelectric:

PE_Cinnabar=1,479.61 barns/electron
U=PE_Cinnabar x r_electron=10000.41 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Cinnabar is Not Radioactive

Cinnabar Classification

Dana Class:

2.8.14.1 (2)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

(2.8)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:1

(2.8.14)Dana Group

2.8.14.1 Cinnabar HgS P 3₁21,P 3₂21 3 2

Strunz Class:

II/C.18-10 II - Sulfides and sulphosalts

II/C - Sulfides with metal: sulfur, selenium and tellurium = 1:1

II/C.18 - Cinnabarite - Hypercinnabarite series

II/C.18-10 Cinnabar HgS P 3₁21,P 3₂21 3 2

II/C.18-20 Hypercinnabar HgS Unk Hex

Other Cinnabar Information

References:

NAME( Sinkankas66) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

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Cinnabar

HgS
Dana No: 2.8.14.1 Strunz No: II/C.18-10
Locality:

Notes: