NATIVE MERCURY

Chemistry: Hg, Elemental Mercury
Class: Elements
Group: Gold
Uses: Minor ore of mercury, electrical switches, thermometers
Specimens

Mercury is unique, as it is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature, having a melting point of -40 C, and a boiling point of 357 C. This silvery liquid metal is very dense, yet has a high surface tension that causes is to form tiny little perfect spheres in the pores of the rocks it is found in. Many mineralogical characteristics simply do not apply to a liquid: there is no "hardness", since it cannot be scratched (nor can it scratch); there is no crystal structure, no fracture, no cleavage, no streak; all of course, at room temperatures. When frozen, mercury forms crystals in the rhombohedral system at low pressure, and in the tetragonal system at high pressure.

The primary mercury ore is cinnabar, which when heated readily decomposes leaving behind pure, metallic mercury which sinks to the bottom of the vessel. Most mercury specimens are indeed cinnabar specimens that have been roasted to free a small part of the mercury which collects as tiny droplets in the pores and crevices of the rock.

Mercury readily alloys with a variety of metals, including gold and silver, from which common dental fillings are made. Common dental amalgam is an alloy of silver, tin, copper, and zinc. There is a controversy regarding the mercury in dental fillings: Does this source of mercury exposure constitute a hazard? Mercury is a heavy metal and consequently a neurotoxin. However, the mercury in amalgam fillings is tightly bound to the other metals, and likely exposure due to a mouth full of fillings is perhaps 1% of the recommended maximum exposure. Bound mercury (in an insoluble form) is not likely to pose a risk. In any case, it is always advisable to wash your hands after handling any potentially toxic materials, including mercury and its ores.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is bright silvery metallic.
Luster is metallic.
Transparency is opaque.
Crystal System does not apply
Crystal Habits spherical droplets, or pools of mercury liquid.
Cleavage does not apply
Fracture does not apply
Streak does not apply
Hardness does not apply
Specific Gravity is 13.5+ (very dense)
Associated Minerals are cinnabar, calomel, and other secondary mercury minerals.
Other Characteristics: Mercury is a liquid! It also expands at a constant rate with a rise in temperature.
Notable Occurrences include Almaden, Spain; Idrija, former Yugoslavia; Italy; California, Oregon, Texas, and Arkansas, USA.
Best Field Indicators its a liquid!