Crocoite is a relativity uncommon lead chromate mineral. It was discovered at the Berezovsky deposit near Ekaterinburg in the Ural mountains of Russia in 1766. Crocoite was originally named crocoise by F. S. Beudant in 1832, from the Greek κροκος, (saffron), in allusion to its colour, a name first altered to crocoisite and afterwards to crocoite. Gold is often found associated with this mineral. Exceptional examples of crocoite crystals have been found in the Adelaide Mine at Dundas, Tasmania; they are long slender prisms, 7.5 to 10 cm in length, with a brilliant lustre and colour. Crocoite is also the official Tasmanian mineral emblem. Other localities which have yielded good crystallized specimens are Congonhas do Campo near Ouro Preto in Brazil, Luzon in the Philippines, and Mutare in Mashonaland.

Within the metaphysical realm of minerals, Crocoite can stimulate and enhance the believer's intuition, creativity, and sexuality. It works very well with their lower Chakras, connecting them and allowing a believer's energy to flow freely between them. It assists with transitions in a non-complex manner. Physically, it’s used in treatment of disorders of the reproductive system.

Please note that MIROFOSS does not suggest in any way that minerals should be used in place of proper medical and psychological care. This information is provided here as a reference only.

Crocoite is sometimes used as a paint pigment, being identical in composition with the artificial product chrome yellow.

Crocoite is an uncommon secondary mineral found in lead deposits associated with chromium bearing rocks.

Crocoite is a mineral consisting of lead chromate, and crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system. The relative rarity of crocoite is connected with specific conditions required for its formation; An oxidation zone of lead ore and the presence of ultramafic rocks serving as the source of chromium (in chromite). Oxidation of chromite and decomposition of galena, or other primary lead minerals, are required for crocoite formation.

Cleavage	Distinct to indistinct
Colour(s)	Yellow, Orange, Red, Red orange
Specific Gravity	6.00
Diaphaneity	Translucent
Fracture	Sectile
Mohs Hardness	2.5 to 3.0
Luminescence	Non-fluorescent
Lustre	Adamantine
Streak	Yellowish orange
Habit(s)	Acicular to Sectile to Crystalline
Radioactivity	Non-radioactive
Magnetism	Non-magnetic

The following health hazards should be noted when handling crocoite

	BIOHAZARD Chromate minerals contain the carcinogenic and mutagenic chromate ion.
	ENVIORNMENTAL HAZARD Chromate minerals can cause harm to the local ecosystem if poured into the water supply.

The following image shows the Elemental breakdown of the mineral crocoite along with the mineral crystal structure.

Crystal System	Monoclinic
Class	Prismatic
Axial Ratios	a : b : c = 0.9569 : 1 : 0.9139
Optical Data Type	Biaxial (+)
RL Values	nα = 2.290(2) nβ = 2.360(2) nγ = 2.660(2)
2V	Measured: 57° , Calculated: 54°
Max Birefringence	δ = 0.370 (See colour chart at right)
Surface Relief	Very high
Dispersion	Very strong r > v inclined

Crocoite can be referenced in certain current and historical texts under the following nine names:

Beresofite (of Shepard)	Beresowite (of Shepard)	Callochrome	Chromate of Lead
Crocoisite	Kollochrom	Lehmannite	Red Lead Ore
Red lead-ore from Beresov

Other than in the basic mineral form, crocoite cannot be found in any other distinct variety

The mineral crocoite can be translated into the following select languages:

Arabic		Bulgarian		Chinese (Sim)	铬铅矿
Croatian		Czech	Krokoit	Danish	krokoit
Dutch	Crociet	Esperanto		Estonian
Finnish		French	Crocoïte	German	Krokoit
Greek		Hebrew		Hungarian
Italian		Japanese	紅鉛鉱	Korean	안하이드리트
Latin	Minera plumbi rubra	Lithuanian		Norwegian
Persian	کروکوئیت	Polish		Portuguese
Romanian		Russian	Крокоит	Slovak	Krokoit
Spanish	Crocoita	Swedish		Tagalog
Turkish	Krokoyit	Ukrainian	Крокоитом	Vietnamese	crocoit

The MIROFOSS database offers free printable geological identification tags for personal and non-profit use. These tags can be used to properly identify mineral samples in your collection. -Click here- to download a full size jpeg image for a crocoite identification tag; which can be printed on paper or used with a plastic laser printer.

What's this? This is a QR code (short for Quick Response) which gives fast-track access to MIROFOSS articles. QR Codes are barcodes that can be read by smart phone cameras. This QR Code is unique to this MIROFOSS article. What can I do with it? You can copy and print the QR code to a plant label, poster, book, web site, magazines, or newspaper so smart phone users can scan the QR Code which automatically takes them to this specific article.

Chemical Composition	Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 63.
Crystallography	Brooke, H.J. and Miller, W.H. (1852) Introduction to Mineralogy by Wm. Phillips, London, 1823. New edition by Brooke and Miller. 8vo, London: 557 (as Lehmannite).
History	Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.:646-649.
History	Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume V. Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 813pp.: 167.
Geographical Data	Mindat.org. Retrieved on 2012-05-17
Physical Identification	Webmineral.com. Retrieved on 2012-05-17.
May 17, 2012	The last time this page was updated
©2017 MIROFOSS™ Foundation