Chromite is shiny and black, and makes a curious-looking cabochon with no special attraction. Occasionally, a cabochon has a reddish color. The stones have little value because the material is extremely abundant but are cut as curiosities only.
Chromite group, extensive solid-solution series.
Note: Magnesiochromite = MgCr2 O4; Hercynite = FeAl2O4.
Optics: R.I. = 2.08-2.16. Isotropic.
Occurrence: in igneous rocks rich in olivine; in serpentines; in stream and beach sands. Sometimes in massive deposits of large size.
California; Oregon; Washington; Wyoming; Maryland; North Carolina; Pennsylvania.
Canada; Cuba; Norway; USSR; France; Zimbabwe; India.
Stone Sizes: Any size could be cut from massive material. The possibility exists for some deep reddish crystals to contain very tiny facetable areas, but thus far none have been discovered.
Comments: Chromite is shiny and black, and makes a curious-looking cabochon with no special attraction. Occasionally, a cabochon has a reddish color. The stones have little value because the material is extremely abundant but are cut as curiosities only.
Sometimes weakly magnetic.
Name: In allusion to the composition.