Matskási István (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 91. (Budapest 1999)
Kázmér, M. ; Papp, G.: Minerals from the Carpathians in an eighteenth-century British collection
O.5. Cinnabaris Hungarica. Zinnober-Ertz. <Hungarian cinnabar. Cinnabar oro M. de Schonberg. {E-9-5} 0.6. Anthrax, sive Vena Minnij Schemnicensis Hungarica, cum Fluoré & Marcasit juncta. <Anthrax, or minium ore, Schemnitz, Hungary, closely associated with spars and marcasite.> Dr. Leopold. There is also in this Mass, Lead-Ore holding a little Silver. About Rosenburg in Hungary, is the most considerable Tract of all Europe for Cinnabar. It is found upon the Sides of great Hills. The poor people collect it after Rains, which clear and uncover it. It lies chiefly in a whitish sparry Stone: and sometimes in SandStone. At Bartfeld, and Seben in Upper Hungary, they sink Mines for Silver and Cinnabar. They are incorporated in the same Mass: and lie in Bellies, but run likewise into Strings. {E-9-6} Anthrax [GJ: Although in the antiquity it usually referred to a red precious stone (carbuncle), ruby or red spinel, this term was also used for red, massive cinnabar (AGRICOLA, 1546); vena minit |L], literally 'minium ore' is also cinnabar (PRESCHER, 1955). Marcasit: sec Appendix 2. Rosenburg is obviously a misprint for Rosenau (Rozsnyó, now Roznava). Large mercury deposits were mined 10 km NW from this town at Nizná Slaná (former Unterslana or Alsósajó) (BUTKOVIC, 1968). The "whitish sparry Stone" accompanying the cinnabar ofthat locality is obviously barite. There is no data available for the mining of silver or mercury in the surroundings of Bartfcld (Bártfa, now Bardcjov) and "Seben" (Kisszcben. now Sabinov), both in Slovakia. O.8. Minium nativum. Aurum continens, cum fluoré mixtum. Ex vena trium Regum Fodini Schemnicensis in Hungária. <Native minium. It contains gold and is mixed with spars. From the vein of the three Kings of the Schemnitz mines in Hungary. > {E-9-8} Minium nativum [Lj: Cinnabar (PRESCHER, 1955). The mine "called the three Kings" was reported by BROWN as an important one. The Three Kings' Vein is located some 9 km WNW from Schemnitz, near Vyhne. O.9. A Body compos'd chiefly of white Spar, but having some Cinnabar, and marcasite, along with it. Upon Trial, besides Mercury, it yields some Silver: and is a sort of Rotgulden-Ertz. Brought from Hungary by M. Ol. du Mont. {E-9-9} o.lO. Cinnaberis atro-fusca cum scintillis passim micantibus. <Dark brown cinnabar with scattered glittering specks. > Out of the Silver-Mine at Schemnitz. The Silver-Ore is found in Veins: and this Cinnabar along with it. This holds some Silver in it, and a little Gold. It has little Quick-Silver in it, so that they rarely extract that. {E-9-10} o. 1 1. Rotgulden Ertz. Brought from Hungary by M. OL du Mont. {E-9-1 1} Rotgulden-Ertz [Rotguldenerz, or Rotgültigerz, G] is an old German miners' term for red silver ore, i.e. proustite, Ag?AsS3, or pyrargirite, Ag3SbS3. It should have been listed with the silver minerals. A passage of BROWN (1673) may also refer to this mineral: "there [in the Windschacht mine at Schemnitz] is often found a red substance which grows to the Ore called Cinnaber of Silver, which being grinded with Oyl maketh a Vermillion equal to, if not surpassing the Cinnaber made by sublimation."
