Cinnabar (mercury sulfide) is the single most toxic mineral to handle on Earth. The name means dragon's blood. It is the main ore of mercury, forming near volcanos and sulfur deposits. Cinnabar may release pure mercury if disturbed, causing tremors, loss of sensation and death. From the Middle Ages to late 1700s, being sent to work in Spanish mines containing cinnabar formations was a death sentence. Cinnabar was widely used in China for ornamental dishes with intricate carvings.
