Crocoite (classic material)

Item Description

While the finest examples of Crocoite are found in Tasmania, I'm sure a good number of you aren't aware that the type locality for the species is actually in Russia. The specimens from the Berezovsk Deposit (specifically the Tsvetnoi Mine) were the first ever described examples of the this desirable lead chromate species, and they are the most well-known pieces of Crocoite from any Russian locality. This piece features several good sized and fairly thick crystals of Crocoite, (the species can often form in thin delicate crystals), with that classic rich orange-red hue, sitting on oxidized matrix. Unfortunately there are a fair number of contacted areas on the piece, so it's not pristine, but there are still several well-formed, smooth crystal faces that can be seen. A nice reference piece of this old-time material that dates back to the 1760s!