Crocoite Specimen # 104
This mineral has a bright hyacinth-red color and an orange-yellow streak. It is commonly found as crystals, which are translucent with an adamantine luster. It is not abundant enough to be of commercial value, but it is of historic interest because the element chromium was first discovered in crocoite.
Crocoite is a stone with a strong vibration that energises your whole system, stimulates your creativity, and helps you to feel passionately about whatever has your attention.
Crocoite is formed through the alteration of serpentine, stichtite and galena, releasing lead and chromium into solution. Crocoite occurs in chromite deposits, quartz veins and in oxidized lead lodes. In the Urals the crystals are found in quartz-veins traversing granite or gneiss.
As crocoite is composed of lead(II) chromate, it is toxic, containing both lead and hexavalent chromium.