\[ **BT: [[Earth#cinnabar]]** ] --- # 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.[^1] > As a mineral ore of mercury, cinnabar is a hazardous material.[^2] --- ## human use > People began using cinnabar for pigments thousands of years ago in Italy, Greece, Spain, Japan, 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.[^3] ### pigment for art > 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 The bright red pigments known as “vermilion” and “Chinese red” were originally made from cinnabar.[^4] The beautiful red lacquer used on items like [[Jar with Dragon and Phoenix Design (1522–1566)]] was a ‘lacquer containing a cinnabar pigment.’[^5] These bright red pigments were also known as **vermilion** and **Chinese red**.[^6] ### ritual use Cinnabar was also used (in powdered form) for ritual blessings and burials.[^7] ### cosmetics > Powdered cinnabar was used as a cosmetic in many parts of the world for thousands of years.[^8] [^1]: Hobart M. King, ‘[[King, ‘Cinnabar’, n.d.|Cinnabar: A Toxic Ore of Mercury, Once Used as a Pigment]]’, Geology.com, accessed 18 April 2024, https://geology.com/minerals/cinnabar.shtml. [^2]: Hobart M. King, ‘[[King, ‘Cinnabar’, n.d.|Cinnabar: A Toxic Ore of Mercury, Once Used as a Pigment]]’, Geology.com, accessed 18 April 2024, https://geology.com/minerals/cinnabar.shtml. [^3]: Hobart M. King, ‘[[King, ‘Cinnabar’, n.d.|Cinnabar: A Toxic Ore of Mercury, Once Used as a Pigment]]’, Geology.com, accessed 18 April 2024, https://geology.com/minerals/cinnabar.shtml. [^4]: Hobart M. King, ‘[[King, ‘Cinnabar’, n.d.|Cinnabar: A Toxic Ore of Mercury, Once Used as a Pigment]]’, Geology.com, accessed 18 April 2024, https://geology.com/minerals/cinnabar.shtml. [^5]: Hobart M. King, ‘[[King, ‘Cinnabar’, n.d.|Cinnabar: A Toxic Ore of Mercury, Once Used as a Pigment]]’, Geology.com, accessed 18 April 2024, https://geology.com/minerals/cinnabar.shtml. [^6]: Hobart M. King, ‘[[King, ‘Cinnabar’, n.d.|Cinnabar: A Toxic Ore of Mercury, Once Used as a Pigment]]’, Geology.com, accessed 18 April 2024, https://geology.com/minerals/cinnabar.shtml. [^7]: Hobart M. King, ‘[[King, ‘Cinnabar’, n.d.|Cinnabar: A Toxic Ore of Mercury, Once Used as a Pigment]]’, Geology.com, accessed 18 April 2024, https://geology.com/minerals/cinnabar.shtml. [^8]: Hobart M. King, ‘[[King, ‘Cinnabar’, n.d.|Cinnabar: A Toxic Ore of Mercury, Once Used as a Pigment]]’, Geology.com, accessed 18 April 2024, https://geology.com/minerals/cinnabar.shtml.