How is cinnabar formed?

Answer 1

Cinnabar, the primary ore of Mercury, forms through hydrothermal processes, where hot, mineral-rich water circulates through rocks. It typically crystallizes in volcanic environments, often associated with sulfur-bearing minerals as a result of the reaction between mercury vapors and sulfur at elevated temperatures. Over time, these conditions lead to the deposition of mercuric sulfide, which is cinnabar. Additionally, it can form in sedimentary environments under specific geochemical conditions, although this is less common.