Hypercinnabar
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About Hypercinnabar
Formula:
HgS
Colour:
Black with purple cast
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
7.43
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
In allusion to the fact that the stability field of the species extends to higher temperatures than that of cinnabar or metacinnabar.
Type Locality:
Polymorph of:
The high-temperature phase of mercury sulphide, HgS. It shows a slight deficiency in Hg [Clark, 1993 - "Hey's Mineral Index"].
Structurally related to the Wurtzite Group.
Intimately associated with metacinnabar, which it generally resembles.
Structurally related to the Wurtzite Group.
Intimately associated with metacinnabar, which it generally resembles.
Classification of Hypercinnabar
Approved
Approval year:
1978
First published:
1978
2/C.18-20
2.CD.15b
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
D : With Sn, Pb, Hg, etc.
2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
D : With Sn, Pb, Hg, etc.
2.8.8.1
2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
2 : SULFIDES
8 : AmXp, with m:p = 1:1
3.5.2
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
5 : Sulphides etc. of Hg and Tl
Pronounciation of Hypercinnabar
Pronounciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon & Katya Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Hypercinnabar
Adamantine
Colour:
Black with purple cast
Streak:
Dark black purple
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
None Observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
7.43 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.54 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured and calculated using synthetic material
Optical Data of Hypercinnabar
Type:
Uniaxial (+)
RI values:
nω = 2.610 nε = 2.850
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.240

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Anisotropism:
Distinct (in oil)
Bireflectance:
None
Colour in reflected light:
Greayish white (in air), brownish grey (in oil)
Chemical Properties of Hypercinnabar
Formula:
HgS
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Hypercinnabar
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.01(3) Å, c = 14.13(7) Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 2.016
Unit Cell V:
601.32 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
12
Comment:
Space group not determined.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.70 Å | (70) |
3.43 Å | (80) |
3.08 Å | (100) |
2.97 Å | (60) |
2.80 Å | (90) |
1.980 Å | (100) |
1.892 Å | (100) |
Type Occurrence of Hypercinnabar
Reference:
Potter, R.W. and H.L. Barnes (1978) Phase relations in the binary Hg–S. American Mineralogist: 63: 1143–1152.
Synonyms of Hypercinnabar
Relationship of Hypercinnabar to other Species
Structurally related to group(s):
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Hypercinnabar associated with Metacinnabar | HgS |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
2.CD.05 | Herzenbergite | SnS | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) |
2.CD.05 | Teallite | PbSnS2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
2.CD.10 | Alabandite | MnS | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
2.CD.10 | Altaite | PbTe | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
2.CD.10 | Clausthalite | PbSe | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
2.CD.10 | Galena | PbS | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
2.CD.10 | Niningerite | (Mg,Fe2+,Mn2+)S | Iso. |
2.CD.10 | Oldhamite | (Ca,Mg)S | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
2.CD.10 | Keilite | (Fe2+,Mg)S | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
2.CD.15a | Cinnabar | HgS | Trig. 3 2 : P31 2 1 |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
3.5.1 | Cinnabar | HgS | Trig. 3 2 : P31 2 1 |
3.5.3 | Metacinnabar | HgS | Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m |
3.5.4 | Imiterite | Ag2HgS2 | Mon. |
3.5.5 | Tiemannite | HgSe | Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m |
3.5.6 | Balkanite | Cu9Ag5HgS8 | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
3.5.7 | Danielsite | (Cu,Ag)14HgS8 | Orth. |
3.5.8 | Coloradoite | HgTe | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) |
3.5.9 | Gortdrumite | Cu24Fe2Hg9S23 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
3.5.10 | Polhemusite | (Zn,Hg)S | Tet. |
3.5.11 | Carlinite | Tl2S | Trig. 3 : R3 |
3.5.12 | Crookesite | Cu7(Tl, Ag)Se4 | Tet. |
3.5.13 | Sabatierite | Cu6TlSe4 | Orth. |
3.5.14 | Picotpaulite | TlFe2S3 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm |
3.5.15 | Raguinite | TlFeS2 | Orth. |
3.5.16 | Thalcusite | Tl2Cu3FeS4 | Tet. |
3.5.17 | Bukovite | Tl2(Cu,Fe)4Se4 | Tet. |
3.5.18 | Gallite | CuGaS2 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d |
3.5.19 | Roquesite | CuInS2 | Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d |
3.5.20 | Indite | FeIn2S4 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fd3m |
Other Information
Health Risks:
Contains mercury - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when breaking. Never lick or ingest. Do not heat in unventilated environment - emits toxic Hg fumes.
References for Hypercinnabar
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Potter, R.W. and H.L. Barnes (1978) Phase relations in the binary Hg–S. American Mineralogist: 63: 1143–1152.
Internet Links for Hypercinnabar
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1994.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Hypercinnabar
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Kyrgyzstan | |
| [Lapis 1993:11 p11-24] |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross, B., Dixon, R. (1995) Cairncross, B., Dixon, R. (1995) Minerals of South Africa. Geological Society of South Africa, PO Box 44283, Linden 2104, South Africa. |
USA (TL) | |
| Potter, R.W. and H.L. Barnes (1978) Phase relations in the binary Hg–S. American Mineralogist: 63: 1143–1152.; Clark (1993) Hey's Mineral Index. |
| Olds, T. (2012) Mercury minerals of the Huron River Uranium Prospect, Baraga County, Michigan. Rocks & Minerals, 87, #2, 134-139. |
| NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada |
Mount Diablo Mine, Mount Diablo, Clayton, Contra Costa Co., California, USA