Azurite with Cinnabar

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An old-time small cabinet specimen displaying many patches of deep blue Azurite in association with Cinnabar and Native Mercury and from the ancient mercury mining district of Landsberg in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, south-west of Frankfurt am Main. Moschellandsberg hill (now shortened to Landsberg), is within a region rich in mercury and mercury minerals, where mining began in around 1440. Because of mercury's unique property of being the only liquid metal at ambient conditions, it has been known since ancient times, and is thought to have been first discovered by the Ancient Egyptians prior to 1,500 BCE. The Azurite forms mainly as micro-crystalline patches, as shown in the photo. However, in places and one vug in particular on one edge of the specimen, Azurite crystals have formed and are beautiful under low magnification. Cinnabar, mercury sulphide, pervades all surfaces of the specimen in shades of mahogany-red, dull terracotta and carmine, all with a matt and powdery texture ad lustre. This specimen has a small paper label glued to it bearing the number 1999 and is accompanied with two very old looking labels, again, both numbered 1999. For any specimens containing mercury and or mercury bearing minerals, it is a sensible precaution to always wash your hands after handling.