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Calomel
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<p>Calomel is a <a href="/facts/Mercury_element/WlxfoHva">mercury</a> <a href="/facts/Chloride/m9NUaUDR">chloride</a> <a href="/facts/Mineral/LkUFbNmv">mineral</a> with <a href="/facts/Chemical_formula/hghUtthl">formula</a> Hg2Cl2 (see <a href="/facts/Mercury(I)_chloride/S8W4jjEV">mercury(I) chloride</a>). It was used as a medicine from the 16th to early 20th century, despite frequently causing <a href="/facts/Mercury_poisoning/xdSGkWLU">mercury poisoning</a> in patients. </p><p>The name derives from Greek <i>kalos</i> (beautiful) and <i>melas</i> (black) because it turns black on reaction with <a href="/facts/Ammonia/MtLtJFtz">ammonia</a>. This was known to <a href="/facts/Alchemy/CEx0U1Em">alchemists</a>. </p><p>Calomel occurs as a secondary mineral which forms as an alteration product in mercury deposits. It occurs with <a href="/facts/Native_mercury/WlxfoHva">native mercury</a>, <a href="/facts/Amalgam_(chemistry)/5dRXJyt3">amalgam</a>, <a href="/facts/Cinnabar/MUzsHjFw">cinnabar</a>, mercurian <a href="/facts/Tetrahedrite/FfLq9tGy">tetrahedrite</a>, eglestonite, <a href="/facts/Terlinguaite/ycdAt8z0">terlinguaite</a>, <a href="/facts/Montroydite/HeNdMe0A">montroydite</a>, <a href="/facts/Kleinite/uTha3CGv">kleinite</a>, moschelite, <a href="/facts/Kadyrelite/64PxYLW6">kadyrelite</a>, kuzminite, chursinite, kelyanite, <a href="/facts/Calcite/gKMHYQJo">calcite</a>, <a href="/facts/Limonite/KCPspvHH">limonite</a> and various <a href="/facts/Clay_minerals/A1Sod7Hp">clay minerals</a>. </p><p>The <a href="/facts/Type_locality_(geology)/ky6QjASt">type locality</a> is Moschellandsburg, <a href="/facts/Alsenz-Obermoschel/mRsT6a9N">Alsenz-Obermoschel</a>, <a href="/facts/Rhineland-Palatinate/Ny2D4pbe">Rhineland-Palatinate</a>, <a href="/facts/Germany/paluuWBX">Germany</a>. </p>