Cinnabar means to gild silver and gold to objects) "the toxic properties of mercury were well known. It was dangerous to those who mined and processed cinnabar, it caused shaking, loss of sense, and death. Data suggest that mercury was retorted from cinnabar and the workers were exposed to the toxic mercury fumes." Overexposure to mercury, mercurialism, was seen as an occupational disease to the ancient Romans: "Mining in the Spanish cinnabar mines of Almadén, southwest of Madrid, was regarded as being akin to a death sentence due to the shortened life expectancy of the miners, who were slaves or convicts."
Ore Run Formation. The upper reaches of the stream flow over rock of the Burgoon Sandstone formation. Rock outcroppings are present in the watershed. The entire length of the stream flows over soil of the Deep-Wellsboro-Oquaga soil association, except for the headwaters, which are on soil of the Oquaga and another, minor soil association. Most of these soils are highly acidic. There is a bed of iron ore on Ore Run. The watershed of Ore Run has an area of . Ore Run is difficult to access. The Ore Run Falls are a cascade and slide waterfall on Ore Run. They are