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Formula: Pb2(CrO4)
Chromate
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 7.01 measured, 7.075 calculated
Hardness: 2½
Streak: Brick red
Colour: Dark red
Solubility: Soluble in hydrochloric acid with separation of lead chloride
Environments:
Phoenicochroite is a rare secondary mineral in the oxidised zone of
chromium-bearing hydrothermal lead deposits,
associated with crocoite, vauquelinite,
fornacite, hemihedrite,
iranite,
pyromorphite,
mimetite,
cerussite, leadhillite,
galena,
calcite, fluorite and
quartz
(AM55.784-792).
Phoenicochroite superficially alters to crocoite which is then replaced by
cerussite, mimetite and
vauquelinite
(AM55.784-792).
At the type locality, the Berezovsk Mines, Ural mountains, Russia, phoenicochroite is associated with
vauquelinite,
pyromorphite, galena,
crocoite (Mindat) and anglesite
(Dana).
At various localities in Arizona, USA, phoenicochroite occurs with mimetite,
willemite, hemihedrite and
vauquelinite
(Dana).
At the Potter-Cramer mine, Vulture Mining District, Maricopa county, Arizona, USA, phoenicochroite is rare; it and
hemihedrite were the first chromates to form in the oxide assemblage at
the mine
(R&M 96.1.33).
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