Cinnabar, also known as mercurblende is the bright scarlet to brick-red form of mercury sulfide.  It is the most common source ore for refining elemental mercury and is the historic source for the brilliant red or scarlet pigment termed vermilion and associated red mercury pigments.

Cinnabar has been used for its color since antiquity in the Near East, including as a rouge-type cosmetic, in the New World since the Olmec culture, and in China since as early as the Yangshao culture, where it was used in coloring stoneware.

Normally Cinnabar is found in rough, reddish rocks, it is rare to find it in it's crystal form as seen in these specimens. 

To produce liquid mercury (quicksilver), crushed cinnabar ore is roasted in rotary furnaces. Pure mercury separates from sulfur in this process and easily evaporates. A condensing column is used to collect the liquid metal, which is most often shipped in  flasks.

Because of its mercury content, cinnabar can be toxic to human beings.