very large matrix Cinnabar (classic locale)

Item Description

Large, rich and showy old-time mercury ore from the historic mines at Almaden. The impressive and rich front hosts numerous gem, cherry-red cinnabar crystals to 4 mm accompanied by a very rich coverage of cinnabar crystal sections. The other three sides of this hefty sculptural wedge-shaped piece have veins, seams and crusts of cinnabar. Cinnabar/mercury mining started here before 5000 B.C. for red pigment and the world's largest mercury deposit has produced one-third of the total world production. See the recent fine Mineralogical Record Almaden Special Issue, January-February, 2019, Vol. 50, No. 1.