Spoilt for Choice

Mineral Matters #445

Living in Australia, and in particular, for 20 years in Tasmania, I am spoilt a bit when it comes to the orange/red lead chromate, crocoite.

Crocoite is in fact, Tasmania’s official Mineral Emblem.

But despite its abundance in the Dundas region in particular, as well as occurrences in other parts of the west of the State, and the fact that it is the best in the world by far, crocoite was first found in Russia.

As per Mindat, the name crocoite comes from the Greek κρόκος "crocon" = saffron, alluding to the saffron-orange colour of its powder. It was known from the middle 1700s, but did not get its current name until 1841 (as krokoit).

Crocoite was first discovered in the late 1800s in Tasmania, and many many tonnes of it went to the smelter to be used as a flux!

Crocoite is uncommon, but is recorded from more than 20 countries. I have about 150 specimens from Tasmania! I also have representative examples from eight of 20 countries, including this one from France.

Below: Crocoite, Pyromorphite, Le Cantonnier vein, Nontron, Nontron, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France. Width of view 11.5mm. Click on the image for a closer look.