Cinnabar is an ore of which one of the following ?

Cinnabar, chemically known as mercuric sulfide (HgS), is the primary and most common ore of mercury [1]. It is a bright red mineral that occurs in granular crusts or veins, often associated with volcanic activity and hot springs. Historically, it was widely used as a pigment called vermilion and in jewelry due to its striking color [1]. To extract mercury, the ore is heated in air, which converts it into mercuric oxide (HgO); further heating reduces the oxide to elemental mercury [1]. While other metals like copper are derived from ores like chalcopyrite and zinc from sphalerite, cinnabar remains the principal source for mercury production [2]. Although the mineral is relatively stable at room temperature, heating it releases toxic mercury vapor, which has led to its phased-out use in many household products [1].

Sources

1. [1] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Metals and Non-metals > 3.4.3 Extracting Metals Low in the Activity Series > p. 51
2. [2] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4256167/