Crocoite: The...Crocodile Mineral?

     With a name like crocoite it does seem like the mineral must have been named after a carnivorous Egyptian reptile. Actually crocoite’s name comes from the Greek word krokos, which means “saffron.” It was given this name because crocoite has a saffron-colored streak. While crocoite’s streak may be saffron-colored, its crystals are usually reddish-orange in color, but orange, red, and yellowish-orange varieties are also known to exist. Crocoite’s crystals are rectangular prisms that usually grow as long, skinny needles. Crocoite is transparent or translucent and its luster is adamantine (which means that it reflects light like a diamond.) However, it does not serve as a gemstone because it is too soft (not to mention the fact that this adamantine luster can fade when crocoite is exposed to the sunlight. In addition to being soft, crocoite’s crystals are sometimes hollow.
     One of the most historic sources of crocoite is the Australian island of Tasmania where crocoite has been mined for more than 100 years. Other sources include: England, Germany, Russia, France, Austria, Scotland, South Africa, Chile, the Canadian province of Quebec, and the American states of Arizona and California. Crocoite once served as an ore of chromium and was used to make paint. Today it is still used to make a type of specialty paint called “chrome yellow,” but it has been replaced as a chromium ore by a mineral called chromite.
     Crocoite is, in my opinion, a very beautiful mineral. Not only is its color very distinguished crocoite has crystals of an uncommon shape. It’s certainly no ordinary mineral!