cinnabar

noun

cin·na·bar | \ˈsi-nə-ˌbär

Definition of cinnabar

1 : artificial red mercuric sulfide used especially as a pigment

2 : a red mineral consisting of native mercuric sulfide HgS that is the only important ore of mercury

3 : a deep vivid red

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In the late 1800s, Oat Hill was one of the richest cinnabar (mercury) mines in the West, and the trail follows the old road that led toward the mine. — Peter Fish, San Francisco Chronicle, "The 5 best hikes in Napa for wine lovers," 21 Feb. 2018 Since Roman times, when slaves worked the cinnabar mines, mercury has been known to cause a wide range of symptoms, including headaches, tremors, drooling, difficulty walking, and eventually, death. — National Geographic, "The Toxic Toll of Indonesia's Gold Mines," 24 May 2016 Since Roman times, when slaves worked the cinnabar mines, mercury has been known to cause a wide range of symptoms, including headaches, tremors, drooling, difficulty walking, and eventually, death. — National Geographic, "The Toxic Toll of Indonesia's Gold Mines," 24 May 2016

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