ETYM Latin cinnabaris, Greek; prob. of Oriental origin; cf. Per. qinbâr, Hind. shangarf.
1. A heavy reddish mineral consisting of mercuric sulfide; the chief source of mercury.
2. Large red-and-black European moth; larvae feed on leaves of ragwort; introduced into United States to control ragwort; SYN. cinnabar moth, Callimorpha jacobeae.
Red crystalline form of mercuric sulfide used as a pigment.
Natural sulfide of mercury, the chief source of mercury.
Mercuric sulfide, HgS, the only commercially useful ore of mercury. It is deposited in veins and impregnations near recent volcanic rocks and hot springs. The mineral itself is used as a red pigment, commonly known as vermilion.
Cinnabar is found in the US (California), Spain (Almadén), Peru, Italy, and Slovenia.