“The quartz is sometimes colored by cinnabar inclusions and is clouded by swarms of mercury inclusions up to a few microns wide. There is also abundant, very lustrous pyrite on the specimen. ”

“Stereo pair. The quartz is sometimes colored by cinnabar inclusions and is clouded by swarms of mercury inclusions up to a few microns wide. There is also abundant, very lustrous pyrite on the specimen. An image of the camera and stack rail was in focus before the mercury surface it was reflected from, which poses an interesting problem for the stacking algorithm. Some touchup was needed to preserve elements of both; this effect could only be achieved with image stacking. ”

“The specimen consists of a bed of upright, slender quartz crystals with abundant mercury firmly wedged into the crevices, and larger loose drops that are free to move if disturbed. There is also a fair amount of pyrite and a cm-sized patch of black metacinnabar on the left end. The matrix looks to be a graphite-rich schist. The quartz is swarming with tiny inclusions of mercury, and lesser amounts of cinnabar, which are challenging to photograph. I am sure to return to this specimen if I ever obtain the equipment needed to image at the appropriate scale. ”

“Intergrown cinnabar and metacinnabar, which has a metallic luster. This image is of the edge of a cm-wide button of metacinnabar which displays repetitive twinning. Note the profusion of tiny mercury inclusions in the surrounding quartz. ”

“Stereo pair. Intergrown cinnabar and metacinnabar, which has a remarkably metallic luster. This image is of the edge of a cm-wide button of metacinnabar which displays repetitive twinning. Note the profusion of tiny mercury inclusions in the surrounding quartz. ”

“A button of metacinnabar, 8 mm wide, with remarkably metallic luster. There is damage near the edge of the specimen but the roughness of the metacinnabar is due to twinning, not breakage. The mercury shows a distinctively greater affinity for metacinnabar, clinging securely to it and even spreading out into flattened drops. ”

“Stereo pair. Intergrown cinnabar and metacinnabar, which has a remarkably metallic luster. This image is of the edge of a cm-wide button of metacinnabar which displays repetitive twinning. Note the profusion of tiny mercury inclusions in the surrounding quartz. ”

“Intergrown cinnabar and metacinnabar, which has a remarkably metallic luster. This image is of the edge of a cm-wide button of metacinnabar which displays repetitive twinning. The mercury shows a distinctively greater affinity for metacinnabar, clinging securely to it and even spreading out into flattened drops. Note the profusion of tiny mercury inclusions in the surrounding quartz. ”

“Stereo pair. This view is admittedly busy and not very aesthetic, but worth a look in case you have never seen quartz stuffed full of mercury and cinnabar inclusions. The stereo version must be the parent photo, of course. ”

“Stereo pair. A wider view version of the parent photo. ”

“This view is admittedly busy and not very aesthetic, but worth a look in case you have never seen quartz stuffed full of mercury and cinnabar inclusions. !Ole! ”