Identification and Nomenclature of Cinnabar and Its Imitation

Cinnabar has been historically utilized in traditional Chinese medicine, calligraphy, and painting. Now it is primarily marketed as jewelry. To address the issue of non-standard nomenclature in the market, this study analyzed natural cinnabar along with its processed products and imitations. The samples were analyzed using conventional gemmological test methods, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The results indicated that the dark-red to vivid-red minerals with an infrared characteristic absorption peak at 343 cm^-1, that predominantly composed of HgS, and displayed an adamantine luster on polished surfaces, should be identified as cinnabar. Samples that composed of cinnabar particles with minimal adhesive, retaining an overall adamantine luster, should be classified as composite cinnabar. Those encapsulated by abundant binding agents and exhibiting resinous luster, should be categorized as reconstructed cinnabar. Materials that mimic the appearance of cinnabar but contain neither HgS as the primary component nor cinnabar particles, should be designated as cinnabar imitations. Jewelry and jade containing cinnabar should be named in accordance with the current effective versions of the national standards GB/T 16552 and GB/T 16553.