Martit

Martit is a rare and highly toxic mineral, primarily composed of mercury sulfide (HgS). It is a soft, silvery-white mineral with a metallic luster and a distinctive cubic crystal structure. Martit is typically found in low-temperature hydrothermal veins and is often associated with other mercury minerals such as cinnabar and metacinnabar. Due to its high mercury content, martit is considered a significant health hazard. Exposure to martit can lead to severe mercury poisoning, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and in severe cases, neurological damage and death.

The mineral was first described in 1845 and is named after the French mineralogist François Sulpice Beudant. Martit is relatively rare and is not commonly found in large quantities. It is primarily of interest to mineralogists and geologists due to its unique composition and the potential health risks associated with its mercury content. Despite its rarity, martit remains an important subject of study in the field of mineralogy and geochemistry.