THE MINERAL CROCOITE

Dims: 3-3/4" x 3" x 3-1/8"

Wt: 1 lb., 7.5 oz

Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

A mass of bright orange Crocoite crystals dwell upon this specimen, coming from one of the more famous localities for this mineral. Almost none of the scores of crystals are complete and no terminations are visible, but the sheer amount of the mineral that is on the matrix (there is more Crocoite than matrix) makes it worthwhile. There are many crystals that bridge gaps in the matrix, which looks like Goethite. Being so laden with Crocoite, this specimen is rather heavy, and really beautiful!

Dims: 2.8" x 2.0" x 1.7"(7.1 x 5.1 x 4.3 cm)

Wt: 3.24 oz.(91.9 g)

Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

There are hundreds of bright red-orange Crocoite crystals on this specimen, ranging from a few millimeters to about 0.5"(1.3 cm) long. They are in their standard thin, monoclinic, needlelike crystal form, have a pearly luster, and are translucent. Though several of the larger crystals are damaged, there are some complete terminations that are large enough to see without magnification. They rest on a brown-black host rock that looks suspiciously like limonite. The Crocoite crystals are heavily intergrown, so together they look like a complex web.

Dims: 1.8" x 1.7" x 1.7" (4.6 x 4.3 x 4.3 cm)

Wt: 1.60 oz. (45.4 g)

Red Lead Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

This delicate specimen contains scores of monoclinic, needlelike Crocoite crystals, many of which are very much exposed. These crystals do not exceed 0.4" (1.0 cm) in length or 2 mm in diameter. They are in generally good condition for their exposure, though many crystals appear to be missing natural terminations. All have the bright, red-orange coloration and vitreous luster that is common for this mineral, and are either translucent or transparent. Their brown-black host rock appears to be made of goethite or some other iron mineral. The high visibility of the crystals on this specimen make it an attractive, though very delicate, piece.

Dims: 3.3" x 2.0" x 1.2" (8.4 x 5.1 x 3.0 cm)

Wt: 3.72 oz. (105.4 g)

Combat Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

A few small clusters of long, thin Crocoite needles rest on the limonite host rock of this specimen. Though there are several crystals that are obviously broken, most are short due to their growth in a small area. None exceed 0.5" (1.3 cm) in length. They have well-defined edges and clean faces that show a bright, almost adamantine luster. All have the standard reddish-orange coloration of Crocoite, and most are noticeably transparent.

Dims: 2.0" x 1.5" x 1.3" (5.1 x 3.8 x 3.3 cm)

Wt: 2.12 oz. (60.4 g)

Red Lead Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

A rather odd specimen, this piece consists of a few random crusts on a limonite host rock from which spring several Crocoite blades. One of these crusts in particular is rather odd, because of its gentle, regular curved shape (see the first image). The crystals that grow from it are in excellent condition, showing no damage, and range in length from 1 mm to 0.6" (1.5 cm). All have the bright orange color and thin, monoclinic prismatic form that are hallmarks of this mineral. Their luster is bright and adamantine, and they are all translucent to dimly transparent.

Dims: 3.0 x 2.2 x 2.0" (7.6 x 5.6 x 5.1 cm)

Wt: 6.53 oz. (184.0 g)

Red Lead Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

This small hand specimen consists of several clusters of intersecting Crocoite needles that fill the hollows of the limonite host rock of this specimen. The largest of these crystals is an incomplete section that appears to have been broken and partly healed. It is in two pieces that are separated by a thin wall of limonite or goethite and has dimensions of 1.0 x 0.4 x 0.3" (2.5 x 1.0 x 0.8 cm). The other crystals do not exceed 0.8" (2.0 cm) in length, and most of them are no more than 2 or 3 mm thick. Many of the crystals are noticeably damaged and broken, but most of this damage appears to have occurred before the specimen was mined, as the breakage surfaces do not have the bright pearly luster that would signify fresh damage. Some of these surfaces also appear to be partly healed. All have the classic bright reddish-orange coloration and pearly luster of Crocoite, and though some of the thinnest crystals are dimly transparent, almost all are merely translucent. There are many small and sometimes broken crystals scattered about the host rock, along with a few hollows that contain small clusters of intact crystals (see the close-up image).

Dims: 2.1 x 0.6 x 0.4" (5.3 x 1.5 x 1.0 cm)

Wt: 11 g w/ base

Adelaide Mine, Dundas District, Tasmania

A single complete Crocoite crystal makes up nearly the entire bulk of this specimen. It is in good condition, showing some damage at its termination, and has good monoclinic prismatic form- it is hollow to some degree, too. Its bright orange-red color and greasy luster are standard for the specie, and it is mostly opaque in sunlight, though small areas are translucent. A few tiny, partial Crocoite crystals intersect it, but there is no base or host material present. The piece is hot-glued onto a flat acrylic base.

Dims: 1.0 x 0.6 x 0.4" (2.5 x 1.5 x 0.9 cm)

Wt: 5 g

Adelaide Mine, Dundas District, Tasmania, Australia

A heavily intergrown cluster of partial Crocoite crystals makes up this thumbnail piece. All of the crystals present have been broken and are incomplete, but all are partly healed over. There is definite monoclinic crystal form present, but none of it is complete enough to be properly studied. All have the classic deep orange-red color and greasy luster. There is no host rock present, and the piece is hot-glued into a thumbnail box.

Dims: 1.3 x 1.1 x 1.1" (3.4 x 2.8 x 2.7 cm)

Wt: 24 g

Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Zeehan, Tasmania, Australia

A tight cluster of scores of Crocoite spikes comprises this thumbnail piece. These crystals are generally broken and do not exceed 0.8" (2 cm) in length, but a few are intact and in excellent condition. All have excellent monoclinic prismatic form, and a few have intact terminations that are extremely well-developed- one appears to be doubly-terminated! All have the standard deep orange coloration and bright, nearly adamantine luster of the specie and are dimly translucent at best. A small amount of a dull, dirt-brown host rock helps to hold the cluster together.

Dims: 1.4 x 1.1 x 0.8" (3.6 x 2.7 x 2.0 cm)

Wt: 18 g

Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Zeehan, Tasmania, Australia

This thumbnail consists of a tight cluster of intersecting Crocoite crystals. Most of these are broken and incomplete, but a few are intact and in excellent condition. These intact crystals do not exceed 0.5" (1.3 cm) and have excellent monoclinic form with exceptional, well-defined terminations. All have the deep orange coloration of their specie and a bright, nearly adamantine luster, and are essentially opaque. A bit of a dull, brown dirt-like substance helps hold the cluster together.

Dims: 1.6 x 1.4 x 1.4" (4.0 x 3.6 x 3.6 cm)

Wt: 2.0 oz. (56 g) w/ specimen box

Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Zeehan, Tasmania, Australia

Several dozen Crocoites extend from the dull, brown base of this hand specimen. These crystals do not tend to exceed 1.2" (3.0 cm) in length, and all appear to be damaged, or at least incomplete. Their monoclinic form is quite good, though none appear to have terminations, and all have the standard deep orange color and a bright, almost silky luster due to their striated surfaces. All are dimly translucent at best. The piece is affixed inside a plastic hand-specimen box with an adhesive putty.

Dims: 1.2 x 0.8 x 0.4" (3.1 x 2.1 x 1.0 cm)

Wt: 1.1 oz. (31 g) w/ specimen box

Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Zeehan, Tasmania, Australia

This small hand piece consists of a simple cluster of less than 10 intersecting Crocoites that are not attached to any base or host rock. The longest of these measures 1.2" (3.0 cm), none are complete, and all show at least minor damage. However, their monoclinic form is essentially good. They all have the deep orange color and bright, nearly adamantine luster that is common for the specie. No host rock is present, and the piece is affixed inside a plastic hand-sized box with an adhesive putty.

Dims: 0.9 x 0.9 x 0.7" (2.3 x 2.3 x 1.8 cm)

Wt: 18 g w/ specimen box

Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Zeehan, Tasmania, Australia

This small thumbnail piece consists of scores of small Crocoites that intersect each other at random angles. These crystals do not exceed 0.7" (1.8 cm) in length and are generally broken or incomplete, but several are seemingly intact and in very good condition. All have excellent monoclinic form, and at least a few show complete and undamaged terminations. All have the standard deep orange color and bright adamantine luster that are common for the mineral. Small particles of a pale-brown, dull "host rock" are present, and the piece is affixed inside a plastic thumbnail box with an adhesive putty.

Dims: 2.6 x 2.0 x 1.6" (6.7 x 5.0 x 4.0 cm)

Wt: 3.9 oz. (110 g)

Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Zeehan, Tasmania, Australia

Several dozen Crocoite prisms are intergrown to form this thumbnail specimen. These spikes reach up to 1.2" (3.1 cm) in length and are in moderately good condition, as many are damaged and broken. Their monoclinic form is quite good, and many show partial and even a few complete terminations. All have the orange-red coloration and adamantine luster that are standard for this specie and are dimly translucent to opaque. Only a small amount of a muddy host rock is present.

Dims: 2.6 x 2.0 x 1.6" (6.7 x 5.0 x 4.0 cm)

Wt: 3.9 oz. (110 g)

Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Zeehan, Tasmania, Australia

Hundreds of small Crocoite spikes cover the rusty host rock of this specimen. These spikes are in fair condition, showing much damage on their more exposed areas, and do not exceed 0.2" (5 mm) in length. All have good monoclinic prismatic form and show the classic orange-red color and adamantine luster of the specie. The host rock appears to be made of limonite and has stained many crystals a dark brown color and faded their luster to submetallic.

Dims: 4.39x3.87x1.86" (11.16x9.84x4.72cm)

Wt: 19.72oz (559g)

Red Lead Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

Thousands of orange crocoite crystals cover most of the surface and cavities of this specimen. The crocoite is generally translucent, although some crystals are opaque and some nearly transparent. They vary greatly in size, too, ranging from 0.1mm to over 10mm in length. Many of the crystals are long, thin, and prismatic, while others are stubby. The luster varies, too, from dull to vitreous, although some of the nearly black crocoite crystals have a nearly metallic luster. The host rock is mostly limonite and goethite, plus there is quite a bit of some dull, light brown mineral as a crust, plus some interesting opaque white crystals that I have not identified.

Dims: 5.67x2.97x1.63" (14.40x7.56x4.13cm)

Wt: 3.55oz (100.8g)

Dundas, Tasmania, Autralia

There are a lot of fragile crocoite crystals on the fragile limonite host rock of this specimen. Did I mention fragile? You can expect at least dozens of small crystals to break off during shipping, but that should not detract from the appearance of the specimen, as thousands more crocoite crystals will remain. The largest crystals should remain secure, as they are well-anchored into the specimen. There is a wide range of crystal sizes, with the largest several millimeters wide and 20 or more long, and there are areas where the crystals are so small as to appear acicular, in a nearly fuzzy mat. All of the crocoite is translucent with a typical orange color, and the larger crystals have a gray sub-metallic tendency.

Dims: 3.78x2.60x1.79" (9.60x6.61x4.54cm)

Wt: 10.12oz (297g)

Red Lead Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

Hundres, perhaps thousands of orange crocoite crystals are densely intergrown on the goethite/limonite host rock. The crocoite crystals are translucent with a luster that is often dull but vitreous in places.

Dims: 2.61x2.50x2.23in (6.64x6.36x5.65cm)

Wt: 9.59oz (272g)

Red Lead Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

Thousands of crystals of orange-red crocoite are all that is holding together several plates of goethite and limonite. While most of the exposed crystals are damaged, there are still hundreds in perfect condition, which excellent luster and showing the translucent nature of the crocoite.

dims mm=79.42x37.70x30.33

wt g=86.30

Red Lead Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

This is a rather fragile specimen of crocoite, consisting almost entirely of loosely intergrown prismatic crystals that once filled a cavity in a host limonite (small bits of which remain). Except on the edges of the original pocket, the crocoite is a colorful shade of red-orange, and the crystals are transparent although that is difficult to observe due to a rather pearly luster.

dims mm=60.13x55.19x43.89

wt g=229

Red Lead Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

The bulk of this specimen is small intergrown crocoite crystals, most of which are a rather dull translucent orange. Several larger crystals are present, and these tend to be nearly transparent and vitreous.