Tobias Menzies was born in North London, England, the son of Gillian (nÃ©e Simpson), a teacher, and Peter Menzies, a BBC radio producer. He has one younger brother, Luke, who is a solicitor.
Cinnabar is a toxic mercury sulfide mineral with a chemical composition of HgS. It is the only important ore of mercury. It has a bright red color that has caused people to use it as a pigment and carve it into jewelry and ornaments for thousands of years in many parts of the world.
Gangue minerals associated with cinnabar include quartz, dolomite, calcite and barite. Small droplets of liquid mercury are sometimes present on or near cinnabar. The most striking property of cinnabar is its red color. Its bright color makes it easy to spot in the field and is a fascination for those who discover it.