Dioptase

$450.00

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We are all familiar with the wonderful large and gemmy emerald green Dioptase crystals from Tsumeb mine in Namibia, but the Tantara mine in the Katanga Copper Crescent in the DRC has also produced some pretty impressive crystals and specimens. This fine small cabinet specimen is an old one. It certainly dates to pre-1958, the year that it was recorded as entering Prof. H. Siegmund's collection in Vienna. The Dioptase crystals might not be quite as gemmy as those from Tsumeb, but boy they are a good size. Quite blocky, or pseudocubic in form, they reach up to 9.5 mm on edge and form a 3 cm thick crust upon gossan containing blue Plancheite (labelled with the old name Katangite). There is some minor bruising to the corners of some of the Dioptase crystals, but this is only really visible under magnification. A very lovely old-time Dioptase, quite distinct from the more common Tsumeb material.