1. cinnabar - Noun
2. cinnabar - Adjective
3. cinnabar - Adjective Satellite
Red sulphide of mercury, occurring in brilliant red crystals, and also in red or brown amorphous masses. It is used in medicine.
The artificial red sulphide of mercury used as a pigment; vermilion.
Source: Webster's dictionaryAssociated modern precautions for use and handling of cinnabar arise from the toxicity of the mercury component, which was recognized as early as ancient Rome. Source: Internet
Dyar and Gunter, pp. 644–648 Sulfides main Red cinnabar (HgS), a mercury ore, on dolomite The sulfide minerals are chemical compounds of one or more metals or semimetals with a sulfur; tellurium, arsenic, or selenium can substitute for the sulfur. Source: Internet
In Roman times, most cinnabar came from mines at Almadén in Spain, where the miners were usually prisoners and slaves. Source: Internet
The mineral resembles quartz in symmetry and in its exhibiting birefringence ; cinnabar has a mean refractive index of ~3.2, a hardness between 2 and 2.5, and a specific gravity of ~8.1. Source: Internet
The seals of the Han dynasty were impressed in a soft clay, but from the Tang dynasty a red ink made from cinnabar was normally used. Source: Internet
Though people in ancient South America often used cinnabar for art, or processed it into refined mercury (as a means to gild silver and gold to objects) "the toxic properties of mercury were well known. Source: Internet