Chromite

Chromite mineral specimens exhibiting the dense weight expected of chrome rich minerals, chromite is an iron chromium oxide mineral which belongs to the Spinel group, a classification of minerals based on their unique crystalographic structure and lattices. Chromite can often be found as a lens inclusion in perodities or in other layered ultra mafic rocks. It is also known to be asociated with serpentine, indeed, it almost looks and feels like a black variation. Thjese particular specimens were collected by staff and come from the Feragen Chromium Mines district in Feragen, Røros, Sør-Trøndelag, Norway. The chromite mineralisation at these sites is almost exclusively confined to the dunitic members which can be traced for more than 300 m along strike. The 235 occurrences which were exploited in this area yielded 32,500 metric tons of ore, representing about 90% of the total Norwegian chromite ore production. Mostly the deposits are in shallow pits, which cover a large area of the hillside. They were exploited during the second World War and have been abandoned for many years. Specimens are available in a range of sizes, each supplied in a labelled card tray.