03-15-2017 03:27 PM
A man at a lapidary group I go to said that we cant work on cinnabar in the lab because it is toxic. I looked into it and it does contain mercury sulfide but there is more mercury in swordfish than in cinnabar. Anybody know? I didnt even think cinnabar was an actual gemstone.
03-15-2017 05:01 PM
It's listed as #1 on the list of the 10 most deadly rocks that don't have to be thrown at you to kill you.
03-15-2017 05:51 PM
@gauntlettgems wrote:It's listed as #1 on the list of the 10 most deadly rocks that don't have to be thrown at you to kill you.
Too funny!
Interesting. This will give me something to research. I've never thought about just how toxic it can be.
Diane
03-16-2017 12:45 AM
03-16-2017 01:04 PM
03-16-2017 02:19 PM
HOLY SNOT!!! So now I really want to (need to) hold on to the cinnabar jewelry I have (not sure I can sell it). I The same guy told me that malachite will give me copper poisoning but that same site said nothing of the sort. Thanks for the warning!
03-16-2017 03:13 PM
I think the mineral and the modern jewelry are different things. The old stuff could be trouble but the modern pieces are resin and have a synthetic coloring. The old stuff is only problem if it gets broken or somebody swallows it, as far as I know.
03-16-2017 03:27 PM
Google"malachite dust poisoning",grinding or sanding dry is toxic if you breathe or ingest it.Depending on the amount it could happen in a matter of hours,cinnabar would probably take longer.
03-16-2017 03:33 PM
I havent found a cutoff of when they stopped mining and carving cinnabar but it is still used as a coloring in lacquer ware and jewelry items are probably a composite and not straight cinnabar. BUT...I have several antique items Im not so sure about. Beautiful stuff - I would love to sell it if it is legal and safe to do so.
03-17-2017 01:41 PM
Thank you so much for posting this link! Fascinating and now bookmarked for future referance!
03-18-2017 11:56 AM
We were talking about cinnabar, and what pops up in the tag end of an estate sale this morning? Yep - and this isn't the modern stuff. I wouldn't want to eat off of it. The expensive bits came from an antique store, but the plate was marked ....75 cents. It's a cousin's Christmas present.
03-18-2017 05:07 PM
So you are giving your cousin toxic cinnabar? Dont you like your cousin? 😄
03-18-2017 05:09 PM
The laplab sanders and saws all use water so should be safe. Folks do malachite there everyweek apparently.
03-19-2017 01:15 PM