BAC23-03
Mercury and Cinnabar
Socrates Mine, Sonoma Co., California
Small Cabinet, 7.2 x 5.1 x 3.1 cm
Ex. Bill & Anne Cook
$2,000.00 Payment Plan Available
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An extremely rich specimen liberally covered with silvery droplets of Native Mercury (quicksilver) to 3 mm! Mercury is the only recognized mineral that is found as a liquid at room temperature and Cinnabar alters to Native Mercury in the oxidized zone of select ore deposits. Native Mercury is quite rare and it was the primary mercury ore at the Socrates Mine when it was producing between 1880 and 1919. This piece has Cinnabar disseminated in the matrix with bright, reflective globules of Mercury densely scattered on the surface. Native Mercury is very rare in specimen form. The specimen has been sprayed with clear lacquer to stabilize the mercury - which is a standard procedure for Mercury to stabilize the droplets. This specimen should only be arranged for pick up at a major show, or at our gallery for hand delivery. Elemental mercury specimens are extremely rare, and this is a very rich example