Crocoite
“Brilliant orange lead chromate”
Crocoite is a rare lead chromate mineral famous for its vivid reddish-orange prismatic crystals. While toxic due to its lead and chromium content, it's one of the most visually striking minerals in existence and was historically the source of the chrome yellow pigment used by painters.
lead chromate (PbCrO₄)
Dundas (Tasmania, Australia — finest specimens), Berezovskoe (Russia — type locality), Callenberg (Germany), Goiás (Brazil)
2.5-3
The discovery of chromium as a new element in 1797 was made by analyzing crocoite from Siberia — making this beautiful mineral the key that unlocked an entire element on the periodic table.
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How did crocoite lead to the discovery of a new chemical element?
Photo Attribution
Title: Crocoite from the Dundas extended mine, Dundas, Tasmania, Australia.jpg
Author: JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/)
License: CC BY-SA 2.5
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