Crocoite

A classic old-time large miniature specimen of Crocoite forming bright orange-red terminated crystals and sections of up to 0.9 cm in length on a rusty coloured white Quartz veinstone matrix. Complimenting the Crocoite are 2 to 3 mm tall micro-crystals of Pyromorphite which vary from siskin lime-green to mid-leaf green and one small patch of an unidentified orange-brown phase, possibly one of the other rarities for which this deposit is known. Several Crocoite and Pyromorphite-lined cavities occur around the sides of the specimen and despite showing some signs of its undoubted age many of the bladed Crocoite crystals are remarkably well-terminated. This is from the famous old mining area of Berezovsk (also spelt Beryozovsky or Berezovskii) in the Middle Urals of Russia and is the Type Locality for Crocoite, a lead chromate. There is some quality about this specimen which makes it look old, perhaps the off-white colour of the tectonized Quartz or the patina of the Crocoite, but no matter what reason, it is a lovely example from its original location in Russia.