Crocoite

specimen number:
2312233

location:
Callenberg North open cut No. 1, Zwickau, Saxony, Germany

description:
A classic specimen from Saxony with sharp red crystals of crocoite to 0.6 cm in length on matrix. This is in very good condition with just slight micro-damage present. The quality is excellent for the species and locality.

The Callenberg mining district near Zwickau, Saxony, Germany, has a long history tied primarily to the extraction of nickel-bearing silicate ores and serpentinite, with open-cut mining operations (such as Callenberg North) active during the 20th century, particularly from the 1960s through the 1990s. Geologically, the area features serpentinized ultramafic rocks associated with the Saxonian Granulite Massif, characterized by weathering and oxidation zones. Within these settings, rare secondary minerals formed where lead-bearing solutions interacted with chromium-rich ultramafic host rocks. This unique localized chemistry allowed for the crystallization of crocoite, making Callenberg a classic and highly prized European locality for small, brilliantly colored orange-red crocoite crystal specimens.

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