Mercury
transition metal · Group 12 · Period 6
Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Paid by Refiners | Major Sources | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cinnabar Ore (HgS) | 0.5-2% Hg | $150-350/MT | China, Mexico, Kyrgyzstan | Primary ore, requires roasting |
| High-grade Cinnabar | 2-5% Hg | $400-800/MT | China (Guizhou), Mexico | Rare, premium pricing |
| Mercury-bearing Tailings | 0.01-0.1% Hg | $20-50/MT | Gold/silver mine waste | Secondary recovery source |
| Recycled Mercury | 99.9% Hg | $45-65/kg | Fluorescent lamps, instruments | Increasing importance due to restrictions |
Cinnabar Ore - Primary Raw Material
Current Market Price: $150-350/MT (varies by HgS content and location) Major Global Reserves: China: 96,000 MT (30% of world reserves) Mexico: 85,000 MT Kyrgyzstan: 48,000 MT Russia: 37,000 MT Spain: 30,000 MT (Almadén mines - historically largest, now closed) 2025 Production Leaders: China: 2,800 MT (75% of global production) Mexico: 250 MT Kyrgyzstan: 180 MT Peru: 45 MT Tajikistan: 35 MT Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Paid by Refiners Major Sources Notes Cinnabar Ore (HgS) 0.5-2% Hg $150-350/MT China, Mexico, Kyrgyzstan Primary ore, requires roasting High-grade Cinnabar 2-5% Hg $400-800/MT China (Guizhou), Mexico Rare, premium pricing Mercury-bearing Tailings 0.01-0.1% Hg $20-50/MT Gold/silver mine waste Secondary recovery source Recycled Mercury 99.9% Hg $45-65/kg Fluorescent lam
⚠️ Seawater Mercury Content
Commercial Viability: NOT VIABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY PROHIBITED Concentration: 0.000001-0.000003 ppm (extremely low) Chemical Form: HgCl₄²⁻ complexes, methylmercury compounds Status: No commercial extraction. Mercury in seawater is a pollutant, not a resource. Any concentration efforts would violate international environmental treaties. Note: Mercury bioaccumulates in marine food chains, causing severe environmental and health impacts.
Production cost analysis
| Cost Component | $/kg Mercury | % of Total Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinnabar Ore (100-200 kg needed) | $15-35 | 25-35% | Depends on ore grade (0.5-1% Hg) |
| Energy (Natural Gas + Electricity) | $8-15 | 15-20% | Roasting and condensation |
| Labor | $5-10 | 10-15% | Hazard pay included |
| Environmental Controls | $10-20 | 20-25% | Scrubbers, monitoring, waste treatment |
| Other Materials & Overhead | $7-15 | 15-20% | Maintenance, safety equipment |
| Total Production Cost | $45-95 | 100% | Compare to selling price: $50-70/kg |
Energy consumption breakdown
| Process Stage | Energy Consumption | % of Total Energy | Energy Type | Key Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ore Roasting | 12-18 MJ/kg | 75% | Natural Gas/Coal | Heating to 600-700°C, HgS → Hg + SO₂ |
| Condensation System | 2-4 MJ/kg | 15% | Electricity/Cooling | Cooling vapor to liquid mercury |
| Ore Crushing & Handling | 0.5-1.5 MJ/kg | 5% | Electricity | Size reduction to 2-10 mm |
| Environmental Controls | 0.5-1.5 MJ/kg | 5% | Electricity | Scrubbers, filters, monitoring |
Roasting Process Details (75%)
Ore Drying: 5% - Remove moisture at 150°C Primary Roasting: 60% - HgS decomposition at 600-700°C Secondary Recovery: 8% - Re-roasting tailings Heat Losses: 2% - Furnace inefficiencies
Condensation System Details (15%)
Primary Condensers: 10% - Water-cooled tubes Secondary Condensers: 3% - Fine mercury recovery Vacuum System: 1% - Maintaining low pressure Cooling Water Circulation: 1% - Pumping systems
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elemental Mercury | Hg | 200.59 g/mol | 99.99-99.999% | $50-70 | Instruments, amalgams, catalysts |
| Red Mercury Sulfide | HgS | 232.66 g/mol | 98-99% | $150-300 | Pigment (vermillion), traditional medicine |
| Mercury(II) Chloride | HgCl₂ | 271.50 g/mol | 99-99.5% | $200-400 | Catalyst, reagent, preservative |
| Mercury(I) Chloride | Hg₂Cl₂ | 472.09 g/mol | 98-99% | $250-450 | Reference electrodes, medicine (historical) |
| Mercury(II) Oxide | HgO | 216.59 g/mol | 99-99.5% | $300-500 | Batteries, pigments, catalyst |
| Mercury(II) Sulfate | HgSO₄ | 296.65 g/mol | 98-99% | $180-350 | Catalyst (acetylene hydration) |
| Mercury(II) Nitrate | Hg(NO₃)₂·H₂O | 342.62 g/mol | 98-99% | $220-420 | Analytical reagent, mercuration |
| Phenylmercury Acetate | C₈H₈HgO₂ | 336.74 g/mol | 97-98% | $800-1,500 | Fungicide, preservative (restricted) |
| Mercury Amalgam (Dental) | Hg-Ag-Sn-Cu | Variable | 50% Hg | $100-200 | Dental fillings (phasing out) |
| High-Purity Mercury | Hg | 200.59 g/mol | 99.9999% | $150-300 | Scientific instruments, standards |
Suppliers by country
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Guizhou Mercury & Chemical | Elemental Hg, HgO, HgCl₂ | Largest global producer, integrated mining |
| Shaanxi Mercury Group | Elemental Hg, mercury compounds | High-purity mercury, catalyst-grade |
| Tongren Mercury Industrial | Elemental Hg, HgS pigments | Traditional cinnabar processing |
🇲🇽 Mexico
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Minera del Norte | Elemental Hg | Primary mercury from mining |
| Zacatecas Mining Co. | Elemental Hg (byproduct) | Mercury recovery from silver/gold operations |
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Khaidarkan Mercury Plant | Elemental Hg | Former Soviet facility, technical-grade mercury |
🇪🇸 Spain (Historical)
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| MAYASA (Closed 2003) | Was world's largest producer | Almadén mines - 2,000 years of production |
🇺🇸 United States (Recyclers)
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem Apparatus | Recycled Hg, redistilled | Mercury recycling, purification services |
| Mercury Waste Solutions | Recycled Hg | Lamp and device recycling |
| D.F. Goldsmith Chemical | High-purity Hg, compounds | Specialty mercury chemicals |
🇯🇵 Japan (Recyclers)
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Nomura Kohsan | Recycled Hg, high-purity | Advanced mercury recovery technology |
| JX Nippon Mining | Byproduct Hg from copper smelting | Mercury recovery from sulfide ores |
Market demand by product form
| Product Form | Global Market Size | USA Market | China Market | Growth Rate (CAGR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elemental Mercury | $240 million | 5% share | 50% share | -8.5% |
| Mercury Compounds (Industrial) | $180 million | 8% share | 45% share | -5.2% |
| Catalyst Applications | $95 million | 12% share | 55% share | -3.1% |
| Electrical & Electronics | $65 million | 15% share | 40% share | -12.8% |
| Measuring Instruments | $45 million | 20% share | 35% share | -15.5% |
| Dental Amalgam | $38 million | 25% share | 15% share | -18.0% |
| Laboratory Chemicals | $25 million | 30% share | 25% share | -2.5% |
| Traditional Medicine | $15 million | 2% share | 65% share | -6.0% |
Market trends
Minamata Convention Impact: 140 countries committed to reducing mercury use, driving -8.5% annual demand decline China VCM Catalyst: Still accounts for 35% of global mercury demand, but alternatives being developed Recycling Growth: Secondary mercury recovery increasing, especially from fluorescent lamps and e-waste Price Volatility: Limited suppliers and trade restrictions causing price swings Artisanal Mining: 15-20 million miners using mercury for gold extraction, major environmental concern Storage Challenge: Countries accumulating mercury stocks as uses decline, long-term storage needed Alternative Technologies: LED lights replacing mercury lamps, digital instruments replacing mercury devices
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elemental Mercury | Hg | 200.59 | 4.99 |
| Mercury(II) Sulfide | HgS | 232.66 | 4.30 |
| Mercury(II) Chloride | HgCl₂ | 271.50 | 3.68 |
| Mercury(I) Chloride | Hg₂Cl₂ | 472.09 | 2.12 |
| Mercury(II) Oxide | HgO | 216.59 | 4.62 |
| Mercury(II) Sulfate | HgSO₄ | 296.65 | 3.37 |
| Mercury(II) Nitrate (hydrated) | Hg(NO₃)₂·H₂O | 342.62 | 2.92 |
References
Explore on Amazon
Explore Mercury-related materials, books, and lab gear on Amazon. Selections are search-based; results refresh on Amazon.
Affiliate disclosure:As an Amazon Associate, nanos earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.