Crocoite

specimen number:
2262164

location:
Dundas, Tasmania, Australia

description:
Brilliant orange red crystallized crocoite across both sides of matrix. Typical of these minimal damage is present. The specimen dates to the 1960s and comes with a previous label from the dealer Larry Conklin.

Dundas, located in the Zeehan mineral field of Western Tasmania, Australia, is globally recognized as the premier locality for the rare lead chromate mineral known as crocoite. Geologically, these spectacular specimens formed in the oxidized zones of silver-lead-zinc deposits where chromium-bearing fluids from nearby serpentinite rocks reacted with lead-rich veins hosted in Dundas Group sediments. The district is world-renowned for producing vibrant, reddish-orange prismatic crystals that can reach lengths of over 10 centimeters, most notably from mines like the Adelaide, Red Lead, and Dundas Extended. Historically, mining and quarrying in the region began following the 1890 discovery of silver-lead ore, with the town of Dundas quickly becoming a bustling mining center during the late 19th century. While large-scale industrial silver and lead extraction had largely ceased by the early 20th century, specialized specimen mining for crocoite has continued sporadically through 2026 to supply the global collector market.

Lawrence Conklin was a world-renowned mineral dealer based in New York City, widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and sophisticated figures in the history of the mineral trade. Operating from his office on 5th Avenue and later from his home in Connecticut, Conklin specialized in "antique" minerals and specimens with significant historical provenance. He was a meticulous researcher and an elegant writer, often publishing articles that corrected historical errors in mineralogical literature. His career spanned over five decades, during which he handled some of the finest known specimens from classic European and American localities, setting a high standard for aesthetic quality and documentation in the field.

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