Crocoita
Crocoita is a mineral with formula PbCrO₄, in the Cromatos group. This specimen comes from Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Zeehan, Tasmania, Australia and joined the Terrium collection in 2020.
Description
Sculptural piece defined by a natural cavity with distinctly organic forms. Intense red, lustrous, slender, intergrown crystals on a dark ferruginous matrix. They arise from an intermediate circular zone towards the centre of the piece.
About Crocoita
Crocoite forms by oxidation of lead–chromium hydrothermal veins, producing fiery-red prismatic crystals. It is a lead chromate (PbCrO₄), unstable in the open air. The best specimens in the world come from Tasmania.
About the locality
Red Lead Mine, located in Dundas, is noted for producing some of the finest known crocoites. It is part of a historic district, now practically exhausted. Many pieces, including this one, were recovered by collectors such as Shane Schreiber. The mine was worked from the 19th century and is now part of the mineralogical heritage.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0449
- Internal reference
- T0056
- Composition
- PbCrO₄
- Name
- Crocoita
- Group
- Cromatos
- Category
- Cavella
- Matrix
- Goethita
- Mine
- Adelaide Mine
- District / Municipality
- Dundas
- Province
- Zeehan
- Region
- Tasmania
- Country
- Australia
- Size (cm)
- 6 x 5 x 4
- Weight
- 140 g
- Acquired
- 2020
- Etymology
- Named for its colour, from the Greek "krokos" (κρόκος), "saffron".
- Quality
- Buena
- Value trend
- Estable