The facts
What crocoite actually is
The species behind crocoite is crocoite, Pb(CrO₄); it forms in the monoclinic system.
Cr⁶⁺–O charge transfer in the chromate group, giving intense orange-red; the mineral in which chromium was discovered is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 2.29–2.66 and a specific gravity of about 5.9–6.1, with distinct {110} cleavage.
Where crocoite comes from
Commercial material comes from Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia, Red Lead Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia, Beryozovskoye, Ural Mountains, Russia (type locality) and Callenberg, Saxony, Germany.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How crocoite is treated
Untreated, though Tasmanian specimens are often acid-etched to free the crystals from limonite matrix and loose crystals are sometimes reglued into artificial groupings — a known practice worth asking about. Very fragile and light-sensitive; keep out of direct sun.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What crocoite is confused with
Watch for Vanadinite, Wulfenite, Realgar and Mimetite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 2.29–2.66 and specific gravity 5.9–6.1 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What crocoite is used for
The trades that buy crocoite are mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen.
Durability and care
Crocoite is 2.5–3 on the Mohs scale, with distinct {110} cleavage.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What crocoite costs
Expect roughly Specimens $60–$20,000; fine Adelaide Mine sprays $500–$10,000, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is crocoite treated, and how?
Untreated, though Tasmanian specimens are often acid-etched to free the crystals from limonite matrix and loose crystals are sometimes reglued into artificial groupings — a known practice worth asking about. Very fragile and light-sensitive; keep out of direct sun.
Where does crocoite come from?
Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia, Red Lead Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia, Beryozovskoye, Ural Mountains, Russia (type locality) and Callenberg, Saxony, Germany. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is crocoite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 2.5–3 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does crocoite cost?
Indicatively Specimens $60–$20,000; fine Adelaide Mine sprays $500–$10,000. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is crocoite confused with?
Most often Vanadinite, Wulfenite, Realgar and Mimetite. A refractive index of 2.29–2.66 and a specific gravity near 5.9–6.1 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for crocoite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about crocoite