Ambros Kissling passed away peacefully in the presence of his loved ones on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.
Ambros and Ann were long-time members of the Mineralogical Society of Tasmania. Ambros designed the logo that is still in use today.
I have some fond memories of Ambros and his sense of humour including these:
- In my early days with the Society, we were down the Weld River way at Glovers Bluff, southern Tasmania, when Ambros stooped down and picked up this lovely green fluorite! Of course, he had previously just placed it there.
- At one stage, I had a beard (of sorts) and Ambros made a comment about me not being able to grow a proper one! He, of course, could!
- He once gave me a specimen of calcite from Gad’s Hill, Tasmania, and was a little surprised when I appeared to be even more interested in the tiny crocoite specimens from the Kapi Mine that was rolling about in the bottom of the box!
Ambros was born in Switzerland. He started mineral and gemstone collecting while working in India during 1954-56. Arriving in Tasmania in 1956, he saw crocoite for the first time and a keen interest in mineralogy followed. Ambros had an interest in the Dundas mineral field for over 60 years, specialising in minerals of the Adelaide mine.
Together with his wife Ann, with the help of trading and dealing, they financed their own collection, concentrating mainly on Tasmanian and Tsumeb (Namibia) specimens.
The first time that Ambros collected crocoite was in 1961 at the Adelaide mine, which was accessed by walking along the old tramway. Until recently, Ambros still had some of the specimens collected that day in his collection. Crocoite can do that to you.
A few years later, Ambros got to know Frank Mihajlowits who went by the tag of the “Crocoite King”, and who operated the Adelaide mine for many years.
His first sale was made in Switzerland. Crocoite purchased for $250 was sold as one lot for $750. It wasn’t always this good though. After the spectacular find in 1971 at the Adelaide, there was a long lean period. Frank and Ambros had something of a monopoly on mineral specimens from the west coast for many years (Frank was able to source mineral specimens from many of the west coast mines, including Renison, Rosebery, the Kapi, and Mount Bischoff) until others came along in the 1980s.
Ambros had his contacts.
One purchase revealed specimens of crocoite, cerussite and pyromorphite that had been stored for many years in a shed. The crocoite specimens, from the West Comet mine, were found wrapped in 1905 newspaper, and may have been stored that way for almost a century.
Crocoite has also found its way into the homes of famous people. A bronze crucifix, with a crocoite specimen at its base, was presented by the schoolchildren of the township of Richmond to the then Pope on his visit to Tasmania. Ambros supplied the crocoite.
Ambros also provided singer Frankie Lane with a crocoite specimen. Frankie Lane, who was in Hobart to perform at the Wrest Point Casino, had been asked by his wife to obtain a crocoite specimen while he was in Tasmania, and he spent some considerable time at the home of Ann and Ambros. They were subsequently guests at one of his performances.
Below: : Dundasite on crocoite, Kapi Mine, North Dundas, Tasmania. Crocoite crystal is just under 4mm long. A “gift” from Ambros.
Below: Ann and Ambros Kissling at the Zeehan Show in 2005.
