Hardness: 2.5 - 3 on the mohr's scale.
Crocoite is a mineral that fascinates collectors. It was first found in Russia and later in other European localities, but only sparingly and in very small crystals. The Australian discovery on the island of Tasmania took this mineral to a whole new level when large, brilliant, well-formed crystals larger and more abundant then any other localities were found. The original crystals from this discovery yielded phenomenal crystals and aggregates, although excellent material is still coming out of these mines as they are mined for specimen production.
The bright red/orange crystals are elongated and prismatic, and almost always striated vertically. Large and single crystals are uncommon; this mineral is most often as reticulated aggregates, acicular groupings, elongated needles, grainy, encrusting, and as disorganized groupings of small prismatic crystals. Crystals are sometimes partially hollow.
