Hypercinnabar
A valid IMA mineral species
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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.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1994
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1994:7
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
0ea30bf1-4071-4b82-9c1f-b202cb021d26
IMA Classification of Hypercinnabar
Approved
Approval year:
1978
First published:
1978
Classification of Hypercinnabar
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
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Hcin | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Hypercinnabar
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon 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)
Chemistry of Hypercinnabar
Mindat 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) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12]) |
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:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 2.CD. | Svetlanaite | SnSe |
| 2.CD.05 | Herzenbergite | SnS |
| 2.CD.05 | Teallite | PbSnS2 |
| 2.CD.10 | Alabandite | MnS |
| 2.CD.10 | Altaite | PbTe |
| 2.CD.10 | Clausthalite | PbSe |
| 2.CD.10 | Galena | PbS |
| 2.CD.10 | Niningerite | (Mg,Fe2+,Mn2+)S |
| 2.CD.10 | Oldhamite | (Ca,Mg)S |
| 2.CD.10 va | Quiroguite | Pb23Sb6S32 |
| 2.CD.10 | Keilite | (Fe2+,Mg)S |
| 2.CD.15a | Cinnabar | HgS |
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.
Internet Links for Hypercinnabar
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1994.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
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References for Hypercinnabar
Localities for Hypercinnabar
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Kyrgyzstan | |
| Kolesar et al. (1993) |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
USA (TL) | |
| Potter (1978) +1 other reference |
| Olds (2012) |
| Castor et al. (2004) |
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Mount Diablo Mine, Mount Diablo, Clayton, Contra Costa County, California, USA