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The mineralogy of Mercury

General Properties
Symbol:Hg
Atomic Number:80
Standard atomic weight (Ar):200.59(2)
Electron configuration:[Xe] 4f14 5d10 6s2
Photos
<
6 grams pure mercury
>
Atomic Properties
Electronegativity (Pauling scale):2
Atomic Radius:171 pm
Ionic Radius:119 pm (+1)
Van der Waals Radius:155 pm
1st Ionization energy:1007 kJ/mol
Oxidation States:1,2,4
Physical Properties
Standard State:liquid
Bonding Type:metallic
Melting Point:234 K
Boiling Point:630 K
Density:13.53 g/cm3
Metal/Non-Metal:transition metal
Main isotopes of Mercury
Isotope% in NatureHalf LifeDecay typeDecay product
194Hgsynthetic444yε194Au
195Hgsynthetic9.9hε195Au
196Hg0.15%>2.5×1018yα ?192Pt
β+β+ ?196Pt
197Hgsynthetic64.14hε197Au
198Hg9.97%-α ?194Pt
199Hg16.87%-α ?195Pt
200Hg23.10%-α ?196Pt
201Hg13.18%-α ?197Pt
202Hg29.86%-α ?198Pt
203Hgsynthetic46.612dβ−203Tl
204Hg6.87%-α ?200Pt
β-β- ?204Pb
Main ions of Mercury
NameIonExample minerals
mercury(I)Hg+Calomel
mercury(II)Hg2+Cinnabar
Other Information
Year Discovered:before 2000 BCE
Discovered By:Ancient Chinese and Indians
Named For:
09719720017362077069619.jpg
Mercury, the god of speed and messenger of the Gods
CPK color coding:#B8B8D0
External Links:WikipediaWebElementsLos Alamos National LaboratoryTheodore Gray's PeriodicTable.com
Simple Compounds and Mineral Names
Sulfidesmercury sulphideHgS+2Cinnabar, Hypercinnabar, Metacinnabar
Selenidesmercury selenideHgSe+2Tiemannite
Telluridesmercury tellurideHgTe+2Coloradoite
Hydridesmercury dihydrideHgH2+2
Fluoridesmercury difluorideHgF2+2
dimercury difluorideHg2F2+1
Chloridesmercury dichlorideHgCl2+2
dimercury dichlorideHg2Cl2+1Calomel
Bromidesdimercury dibromideHg2Br2+1
Iodidesmercury diiodideHgI2+2Coccinite
dimercury diiodideHg2I2+1Moschelite
Oxidesmercury oxideHgO+2Montroydite
dimercury oxideHg2O+1
Mineral Diversity of Mercury
1. Elements 11 valid mineral species
2. Sulfides And Sulfosalts 57 valid mineral species
3. Halides21 valid mineral species
4. Oxides 3 valid mineral species
5. Carbonates 3 valid mineral species
7. Sulfates 5 valid mineral species
8. Phosphates, Arsenates, Vanadates5 valid mineral species
9. Silicates 1 valid mineral species
Total:106 valid species containing essential Mercury
Minerals with the greatest weight % of Mercury
Native MercuryHg100.00 %
MontroyditeHgO92.61 %
Hanawaltite[Hg2]2+3Hg2+(Cl,OH)2O392.19 %
Poyarkovite[Hg2]2+3Cl2O292.12 %
Eglestonite[Hg2]2+3OCl3(OH)89.62 %
Mikecoxite[CHg4]OCl289.02 %
Terlinguaite[Hg3]4+Hg2+Cl2O288.63 %
PinchiteHg2+5Cl2O488.14 %
Edgarbaileyite[Hg2]2+3[Si2O7]87.74 %
GaildunningiteHg2+3[NHg2+2]18(Cl,I,OH,Br,S)2487.64 %
Geochemistry of Mercury
Goldschmidt classification:Chalcophile
Elemental Abundance for Mercury
Crust (CRC Handbook)8.5 x 10-8mass fraction, kg/kg
Crust (Kaye & Laby)2 x 10-8mass fraction, kg/kg
Crust (Greenwood)8 x 10-8mass fraction, kg/kg
Sea Water (CRC Handbook)3 x 10-11mass per volume fraction, kg/L
Sea Water (Kaye & Laby)1.5 x 10-10mass per volume fraction, kg/L
Solar System (Kaye & Laby)3.4 x 10-7atom mole fraction relative to Si=1
Solar System (Ahrens)3.40 x 10-7 (12%)atom mole fraction relative to Si=1 (% uncertainty)
Element association of Mercury in the Mineral World
This table compares the known valid mineral species listed listed with Mercury and the other elements listed based on the official IMA formula. Note that unlike other sections on this page this includes non-essential elements.

The first data column contains the total number of minerals listed with Mercury and the element listed for that row.

The second data column lists this number as a percentage of all minerals listed with Mercury.

The final data column compares this percentage against the percentage of all minerals that contain the element listed in each row.

Click on a heading to sort.
ElementValid Minerals listed with element and Mercury% of Hg mineralsRelative to % in all minerals
Sulfur54 minerals with Hg and S48.65%120.61% higher
Oxygen34 minerals with Hg and O30.63%62.14% lower
Chlorine27 minerals with Hg and Cl24.32%228.75% higher
Silver26 minerals with Hg and Ag23.42%501.62% higher
Copper25 minerals with Hg and Cu22.52%65.97% higher
Antimony20 minerals with Hg and Sb18.02%217.75% higher
Arsenic20 minerals with Hg and As18.02%39.41% higher
Hydrogen13 minerals with Hg and H11.71%78.97% lower
Iodine11 minerals with Hg and I9.91%1,816.95% higher
Lead11 minerals with Hg and Pb9.91%7.89% lower
Selenium10 minerals with Hg and Se9.01%235.94% higher
Bromine10 minerals with Hg and Br9.01%3,180.34% higher
Thallium9 minerals with Hg and Tl8.11%445.53% higher
Nitrogen5 minerals with Hg and N4.50%76.47% higher
Palladium5 minerals with Hg and Pd4.50%220.49% higher
Tellurium5 minerals with Hg and Te4.50%28.49% higher
Carbon5 minerals with Hg and C4.50%44.57% lower
Bismuth4 minerals with Hg and Bi3.60%13.54% lower
Zinc3 minerals with Hg and Zn2.70%52.34% lower
Chromium3 minerals with Hg and Cr2.70%48.05% higher
Nickel2 minerals with Hg and Ni1.80%47.14% lower
Molybdenum2 minerals with Hg and Mo1.80%14.98% higher
Iron2 minerals with Hg and Fe1.80%91.97% lower
Gold2 minerals with Hg and Au1.80%159.38% higher
Magnesium1 mineral with Hg and Mg0.90%93.27% lower
Silicon1 mineral with Hg and Si0.90%96.74% lower
Phosphorus1 mineral with Hg and P0.90%92.65% lower
Vanadium1 mineral with Hg and V0.90%81.22% lower
Manganese1 mineral with Hg and Mn0.90%92.25% lower
Tin1 mineral with Hg and Sn0.90%50.65% lower
Platinum1 mineral with Hg and Pt0.90%18.65% higher
Aluminium1 mineral with Hg and Al0.90%95.49% lower
Caesium1 mineral with Hg and Cs0.90%68.99% higher
Periodic Table
1H 2He
3Li 4Be 5B 6C 7N 8O 9F 10Ne
11Na 12Mg 13Al 14Si 15P 16S 17Cl 18Ar
19K 20Ca 21Sc 22Ti 23V 24Cr 25Mn 26Fe 27Co 28Ni 29Cu 30Zn 31Ga 32Ge 33As 34Se 35Br 36Kr
37Rb 38Sr 39Y 40Zr 41Nb 42Mo 43Tc 44Ru 45Rh 46Pd 47Ag 48Cd 49In 50Sn 51Sb 52Te 53I 54Xe
55Cs 56Ba 57La 72Hf 73Ta 74W 75Re 76Os 77Ir 78Pt 79Au 80Hg 81Tl 82Pb 83Bi 84Po 85At 86Rn
87Fr 88Ra 89Ac 104Rd 105Db 106Sg 107Bh 108Hs 109Mt 110Ds 111Rg 112Cn 113Nh 114Fl 115Mc 116Lv 117Ts 118Og
 
58Ce 59Pr 60Nd 61Pm 62Sm 63Eu 64Gd 65Tb 66Dy 67Ho 68Er 69Tm 70Yb 71Lu
90Th 91Pa 92U 93Np 94Pu 95Am 96Cm 97Bk 98Cf 99Es 100Fm 101Md 102No 103Lr
Default Categories CPK Electronegativity Atomic Radius Lowest Oxidation Highest Oxidation Crustal Abundance Goldschmidt Mineral Species Minerals with Hg Relative Frequency
Gold << Mercury >> Thallium


Most widespread minerals containing Mercury
This list of minerals containing Mercury is built from the mindat.org locality database. This is based on the number of localities entered for mineral species and is therefore slanted towards minerals interesting to collectors with less coverage of common rock-forming-minerals so it does not give an undistorted distribution of Mercury mineral species. It is more useful when comparing rare species rather than common species.
NameFormulaCrystal SystemMindat Localities
CinnabarHgSTrigonal3079
Native MercuryHgTrigonal446
MetacinnabarHgSIsometric301
ColoradoiteHgTeIsometric243
TiemanniteHgSeIsometric115
Calomel[Hg2]2+Cl2Tetragonal102
PotaritePdHgTetragonal49
TemagamitePd3HgTe3Trigonal45
Eglestonite[Hg2]2+3OCl3(OH)Isometric40
MontroyditeHgOOrthorhombic34
Photos
08340010017271922124100.jpg
Cinnabar

Sofiya Mine, Nikitovka Hg deposit, Gorlovka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
07976160017271925071942.jpg
Native Mercury, etc.

Almadén Mine, Almadén, Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain
07947480017271925015570.jpg
Metacinnabar

Mount Diablo Mine, Mount Diablo, Clayton, Contra Costa County, California, USA
08222450017271922245413.jpg
Coloradoite, etc.

Cripple Creek Mining District, Teller County, Colorado, USA
08340010017271922124100.jpg
Cinnabar

Sofiya Mine, Nikitovka Hg deposit, Gorlovka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
07976160017271925071942.jpg
Native Mercury, etc.

Almadén Mine, Almadén, Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain
07947480017271925015570.jpg
Metacinnabar

Mount Diablo Mine, Mount Diablo, Clayton, Contra Costa County, California, USA
03236850017362077077053.jpg
Coloradoite, etc.

Cripple Creek Mining District, Teller County, Colorado, USA
05638940017271922332873.jpg
Cinnabar

Sofiya Mine, Nikitovka Hg deposit, Gorlovka, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
07976160017271925071942.jpg
Native Mercury, etc.

Almadén Mine, Almadén, Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain
07947480017271925015570.jpg
Metacinnabar

Mount Diablo Mine, Mount Diablo, Clayton, Contra Costa County, California, USA
08222450017271922245413.jpg
Coloradoite, etc.

Cripple Creek Mining District, Teller County, Colorado, USA

Localities with greatest number of different Mercury mineral species
1Clear Creek claim, Goat Mountain, San Benito County, California, USA23 Hg minerals
2Chauvai (Chauvay) Sb-Hg Deposit, Kadamjay District, Batken Region, Kyrgyzstan20 Hg minerals
3Khaidarkan Sb-Hg deposit, Aydarken, Kadamjay District, Batken Region, Kyrgyzstan17 Hg minerals
4McDermitt Mine, Opalite Mining District, Humboldt County, Nevada, USA16 Hg minerals
5Mariposa Mine, Brewster County, Texas, USA15 Hg minerals
6Kadyrel' Hg occurrence, Oorash-Khem River Valley, Uyuk Range, Pi-Khem District, Tuva, Russia15 Hg minerals
7Arzak Hg occurrence (Arzakskoye), Uyuk Range, Pi-Khem District, Tuva, Russia15 Hg minerals
8Landsberg, Obermoschel, Nordpfälzer Land, Donnersbergkreis, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany14 Hg minerals


Minor ores of Mercury
NameFormulaCrystal System
Calomel[Hg2]2+Cl2Tetragonal
Photos
01131330017271921831004.jpg
Calomel, etc.

Mariposa Mine, Brewster County, Texas, USA
04272200017271921854398.jpg
Calomel

Clear Creek claim, Goat Mountain, San Benito County, California, USA
06371240017271921887646.jpg
Calomel

Terlingua, Brewster County, Texas, USA
05593540017362077075880.jpg
Calomel

El Entredicho Mine, Almadenejos, Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain
09312460017362077075597.jpg
Calomel, etc.

Mariposa Mine, Brewster County, Texas, USA
01835480017362077089502.jpg
Calomel

Clear Creek claim, Goat Mountain, San Benito County, California, USA
03275740017362077082940.jpg
Calomel

Terlingua, Brewster County, Texas, USA
05593540017362077075880.jpg
Calomel

El Entredicho Mine, Almadenejos, Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain
01131330017271921831004.jpg
Calomel, etc.

Mariposa Mine, Brewster County, Texas, USA
04272200017271921854398.jpg
Calomel

Clear Creek claim, Goat Mountain, San Benito County, California, USA
06371240017271921887646.jpg
Calomel

Terlingua, Brewster County, Texas, USA
04381980017362077083288.jpg
Calomel

El Entredicho Mine, Almadenejos, Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain
 
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Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2025, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
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