Dioptase

Unknown Owner

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A sparkling small cabinet Dioptase specimen from a specimen producing prospect in the Republic of the Congo (the old Belgian Congo to the left on the map, not the larger one formerly called Zaire). The piece consists of at least a dozen spherical aggregates of dark, emerald green Dioptase from 0.5 to 1 cm in size that just scintillate from any incident light on the piece. Individual crystals that make up the clusters are only a few millimeters in length but they have great effect with the play of light on the specimen and there are quite a few isolated, 1 to 2 mm Dioptase crystals sprinkled about the piece as well. The bright green Dioptase are distributed on a carpet of tiny, glistening Dolomite crystals all on a silicified, brick-red matrix. A beautiful discovery, with a style very different than dioptase from other localities!