D10-26
Crocoite (Rare Crystal Habit)
Adelaide Mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia
Miniature, 5.0 x 4.0 x 3.5 cm
Ex. Al Ordway
SOLD
Extremely bright red color and top luster make this a beautiful piece anyhow, but more importantly it has a rare crystal habit for the species. The crystals are "pointy," or bipyramidal, instead of the typical elongated rodlike crystals we usually see in all the photos of famous finds here. In fact, the first crocoites from Russia, and later examples from Brazil and a few other scarce locales, share this habit; but it is rare from (Tasmania) Australia which, ironically, hosts the most productive localities for the species. Again, though, desipite the rarity of crystal style this piece holds its own as a superlative miniature