Name 1
METACINNABAR
Name 2
/
ID number
002.20.Idrija
Manager / Administrator
Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Centre
Ownership
Public
Owner
Republic of Slovenia
Local / Original ID Number
323 M-4
Type of Object
Ore deposit

Description

Short description
On the very rich steel ore in oolitic limestone we can observe moulds of superficial layers of calcite and a set of fine crystal of metacinabarite on it. The crystals are greyish black with metallic shine. They are very brittle. They measure up to 1 mm and compose up to 5 mm big spheric sets.
Measures
Length 14 cm, width 11 cm, height 7 cm.
Materials
Metacinabarite, calcite, oolitic limestone
Dating
Metacinabarite was formed in one of the two hydrothermal phases in the Ladinian - Mid-Triassic
Author / Producer
/
Picture attachments
Original use
Metacinabarite (HgS) is a primary mineral, formed by the crystallisation from hydrothermal solutions at a higher temperature than cinnabar. It is a cubic modification of mercury sulfide and is a mineralogical feature of Idrija ore deposit. Hacquet had already discovered metacinnabarite in 1781, but it was not recognised as an independent mineral back then. In 1891, Schrauf accurately described it a special study. Crystals of metacinnabarite form up to 5mm large spherical sets with metallic shine.
Present use
The metacinnabarite (HgS) sample is being preserved, secured and presented as important natural heritage of Idrija ore deposit with exceptional universal values. It represents a unique soil “archive”, as the sample was excavated in Idrija ore deposit and also stored. It is a part of the thematic collection “Minerals of Idrija ore deposit” of the Mine Geological Collection, displayed in the CUDHg administrative premises, as a part of the Francis’ shaft.

Original location
Idrija ore deposit, Metacinnarite ore body
Present location
CUDHg (Mining Geological Collection), Bazoviška 2, SI-5280 Idrija

STATE OF CONSERVATION

History of conservation:
The sample is appropriately preserved. Additional interventions are not necessary. Security of the premises is taken care of.
Present state
good
Necessary activities:
Regular seasonal maintenance.

DOCUMENTATION

Addresses / collections / links etc. where further in-depth information is accessible:
- CUDHg Inventory Book;
- Čar, Jože. Rudniška geološka zbirka: Seznam in opis vzorcev. Mercury Mine Idrija, 2003, p. 1–122, [material is kept in the CUDHg archive];
- Vidrih, Renato, Mikuž, Vasja. Minerali na Slovenskem. Ljubljana: Tehniška založba Slovenije, 1995;
- Rečnik, Aleksander. Minerali živosrebrovega rudišča. Ljubljana: Institut "Jožef Stefan"; [Salzhemmendorf]: Bode, 2012.

Submitted
Mestni muzej Idrija
Submitted by
Miha Kosmač
Date Submitted
28. 2. 2018
Date Edited
Never