Cinnabar, a bright vermilion red material, is a sulfide of mercury. It is the only important ore mineral derived from mercury. Cinnabar is found most commonly in areas of igneous activity where it is deposited in porous rocks and hot springs. Crystals from the Hunan Province of China are considered the most collectible. 

Cinnabar can be distinguished from cuprite, a similarly hued reddish brown material, by cuprite’s isometric crystals and brownish red streak. Cuprite is the only red copper derivative.