Crocoite Mineral Guide

Crocoite

Crystal system · Monoclinic

Crocoite is a chromate mineral recognized among collectors for its crystal form and distribution, with known Chinese sources.

About Crocoiteextended article

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Market availability: Rare

Sought after; limited supply. Major shows and specialist dealers only.

Collector tier: Cabinet Classic

World-class display species — sought after for cabinet collections, well-documented localities, frequent show-piece pieces.

Geological setting

Oxidation zone

Crystal system
Monoclinic

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Crocoite is a lead chromate mineral whose vivid orange-to-red prismatic crystals from Tasmania rank among the most spectacular collector minerals on Earth. Crocoite from the Adelaide and Red Lead mines (Dundas, Tasmania) is the official mineral emblem of Tasmania.

Occurrence #

Type locality: Berezovsk (Ural Mountains, Russia) — historic but small crystals. The unrivaled collector locality is Dundas, Tasmania (Adelaide, Red Lead, West Comet mines), where bright orange prisms up to 20 cm long form spectacular cavity-lining clusters.

Identification #

Vivid orange-red elongated prismatic crystals + association with Pb oxidation zones + bright orange streak. Color is essentially diagnostic. Distinguish from realgar (also orange-red but sulfide, softer, sectile). Care: brittle and cleaves easily.

Collector Notes #

Dundas crocoite clusters are signature Australian collector pieces and command premium prices. Often paired with cerussite, pyromorphite and dundasite. Closes the orange-red secondary-Pb mineral suite.

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External research links for Crocoite

MindatLocality + paragenesis database RRUFFReference Raman/IR/X-ray spectra WebmineralCrystallographic + physical data HandbookAnthony et al. Handbook of Mineralogy WikipediaWikipedia article Google ImgsImage search — visual reference ScholarAcademic literature search

Published: May 6, 2026 · Last reviewed: May 6, 2026
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Identification & care

Crocoite typically forms prismatic elongated crystals, striated; often hollow; drusy crusts; acicular. Its color is typically bright orange-red to orange-yellow. The luster is adamantine, vitreous, the streak is orange-yellow, and specimens range from transparent to translucent. The cleavage is distinct on {110}, imperfect on {001}. The fracture is conchoidal, uneven, which aids identification.

Collector context

How it forms

In terms of geology, Crocoite forms in secondary mineral in oxidized zone of lead ore deposits that have been enriched in chromium; rare because both lead and chromium must be present simultaneously in the oxidized zone. It is commonly found in association with cerussite, wulfenite, mimetite, pyromorphite, galena, limonite, vauquelinite.

Classic Chinese localities

Crocoite has known Chinese occurrences in Gansu.

Why collectors care

Collectors pursue Crocoite for the clarity of its crystal form and, in good material, saturated color that reads instantly across a display case. A well-terminated crocoite on clean matrix photographs well, identifies quickly, and anchors a cabinet piece. Top Chinese specimens over the last two decades have reset the bar for what crocoite looks like at collector grade.

What affects value

Value in Crocoite is assessed, in typical order of weight, against: (1) locality provenance; (2) size relative to the species norm; (3) crystal form and termination sharpness; (4) color saturation and zoning; (5) transparency and internal clarity; (6) matrix quality and aesthetic balance; (7) condition (absence of damage, chips, or repair). Cleaning quality and verified locality documentation act as multipliers across the above.

Naming history

The name Crocoite has a specific etymological and historical context — see Mindat's reference entry for provenance details. We have retained naming data at the record level; published prose is paraphrased from factual fields rather than copied from source.