RAMWolff,

Mercury is found in the mineral Cinnabar. Cinnabar is red (actually found in many shades). See Cinnabar for more information. Just down the SF bay from us, in south San Jose's Almaden valley, was the major cinnabar mine(s) supporting the California gold rush. They continued mining those deposits into at least the 1950's.

Mercury is liquid at room temperature and certainly looks like liquid silver. I used to use mercury when I worked with my uncle on his gold claims. Gold, in dust or small grain sizes, amalgamates with mercury, creating a "butter." Our teeth used to be filled with a mercury/silver or mercury/gold amalgam.

As I remember, mercury's reflective properties are very close to chrome. Perhaps a very little bit warmer.

Al Kolka
alkolka@attbi.com