Some specimens of cinnibar and calomel will have natural mercury in them. it is the only known minerial to be in liquid form at room temperature.Since this is so, this stone can neither be scratched nor scratch.and has no MOH hardness level.

When frozen it forms rhombohedral(looks like coral or brainlike material.) system at low pressure
and tetragonal system(looks like a standard quartz crystal cluster layout)at high pressure
Pure Mercury is highly dangerous and should not be touched, swallowed, or breathed in even in small amounts. It should be kept in a sealed display box which is sealed air tight. This is for your safety as well as its as it will evaporate in open air and poison the environment. keep in mind that some of the things mentioned below should never be attempted by anyone as it is highly toxic on several levels.This is a heavy metal and a neurotoxin.


Mercury was known to the ancient Chinese and Hindus and was found in Egyptian tombs that date from 1500 BC. In China, India and Tibet, mercury use was thought to prolong life, heal fractures, and maintain generally good health. The ancient Greeks used mercury in ointments and the Romans used it in cosmetics. By 500 BC mercury was used in the making of other metals. One of China's emperorors, Qín Shǐ Huáng Dì .. he was killed by drinking a mercury and powdered Jade mixture which was intended to give him eternal life.

Alchemists often thought of mercury as the First Matter from which all metals were formed. The Indian word for alchemy is Rassayana which means ‘the way of mercury.’ Different metals could be produced by varying the quality and quantity of sulfur contained within the mercury. An ability to transform mercury into any metal resulted from the essentially mercurial quality of all metals. The purest of these was gold, and mercury was required for the transmutation of base (or impure) metals into gold. This was a primary goal of alchemy, either for material or spiritual gain.

Hg is the modern chemical symbol for mercury. It comes from hydrargyrum, a Latinized form of the Greek word `Υδραργυρος (hydrargyros), which is a compound word meaning 'water' and 'silver' — since it is liquid, like water, and yet has a silvery metallic sheen. The element was named after the Roman god Mercury, known for speed and mobility. It is associated with the planet Mercury. The astrological symbol for the planet is also one of the alchemical symbols for the metal (above left). Mercury is the only metal for which the alchemical planetary name became the common name.

From the mid-18th to the mid-19th centuries, a process called "carroting" was used in the making of felt hats. Animal skins were rinsed in an orange solution of the mercury compound mercuric nitrate, Hg(NO3)2•2H2O. This process separated the fur from the pelt and matted it together. This solution and the vapors it produced were highly toxic. Its use resulted in widespread cases of mercury poisoning among hatters. Symptoms included tremors, emotional lability, insomnia, dementia and hallucinations. The United States Public Health Service banned the use of mercury in the felt industry in December 1941. The psychological symptoms associated with mercury poisoning may have inspired the simile "mad as a hatter", see the hatter article on the origin of the phrase.

Common dental fillings made with mercury are silver, tin, copper, and zinc. There is debate as to wether or not this combo is a health hazzard. However, the mercury in amalgam fillings is tightly bound to the other metals, and likely exposure due to a mouth full of fillings is perhaps 1% of the recommended maximum exposure

also mercury is in the new compact Fluorescent Light(CFL) Bulbs. the average CFL has about 4.0 mg per bulb. although a company called Turolight claimed it's New Genesis Fusion bulb only contains 1mg of mercury.
so you don't need to buy an old thermometer to get mercury. also on a side note if these mercury filled bulbs break ,then do the following:

try NOT to use a broom or a vacuum. make sure no one steps on it. try to get as much ventilation as possible. take stiff cardboard paper and scoop it up in a container using gloves(preferably disposable). also use tape to pick up any mercury or other parts. then wash the surface and label the container and send it to a recycling center ASAP. In the case of carpeting then try to remove the area of carpet where it was broken. if you can not then use a vacuum and get rid of the vacuum bag ASAP.

anyhow a mercury spill from a thermometer is considered a small spill. anything larger you would have to call the authorities otherwise you would be risking mercury poisoning.

in general any clothing that was exposed should be placed in a plastic bag and removed with the trash. any carpeting or other things should be removed. floors contaminated with mercury on a small spill level should be cleaned with adhesive tape and an eye dropper. then use a mercury cleaning kit. usually the kits contain zinc or sulphur and these absorb the mercury.

BTW mercury thermometers usually have silver coloring in the indicator or bottom area. thermometers which have red or other coloring in it do NOT contain mercury in them.

if you do not have a mercury cleaning kit then use the following:

Rubber gloves, eye protection , a flashlight, several zipper-type plastic bags, two plastic trash bags, two inch wide tape ,paper towels, an eyedropper and two index cards or similar cardboard paper.

Powdered sulfur or zinc, which can be obtained from safety equipment suppliers, agriculture supply stores, garden centers and pharmacies.

A container to hold a small amount of tap water to moisten the paper towels. If you are using zinc powder instead of sulfur, you will need to moisten the zinc powder as well.

Coveralls or a change of clothing, and old shoes or booties to cover your shoes. You will need to throw out or air out items worn during the cleanup.

if the amount spilled was larger than a dime it's considered a large amount. smaller than a dime is small exposure.

keep said stuff away from pregnant women and children. this type of mercury would be classified as elemental mercury.

if inhaled there might be damage to the kidneys and central nervous system (CNS)such as tremors, irritability, insomnia, memory loss, neuromuscular changes, headaches, slowed sensory and motor nerve function, and reduction in cognitive function. also increased excitability, irritability, excessive shyness, insomnia, severe salivation, and gingivitis.

As of this post it is inclussive that this type of exposure can cause cancer as not enough data has been given.

stomach problems and breathing problems may arise such as chest pains, dyspnea, cough, pulmonary function impairment, and interstitial pneumonitis have also been noted from human inhalation exposure to this type of mercury.

in magical workings mercury is used divination. usually by filling an empty glass jar with it and corking it.

also used in gambling and /or luck by filling a piece of nutmeg with it and sealing it up.

also used in protection magic.