Diopside (twin)

Unknown Owner

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Perhaps one of the most well known of Alex's gem crystal suite, this amazing lime-green gem is a diopside crystal of incredible quality, and fine provenance. A gorgeous 2.8 x 1.4 x 1.1 cm lustrous, water-clear, terminated gem. Standing up, this is a miniature, but tilted back you can get it into a thumbnail box for competition without any trouble. From Jim Houran on June 15, 2009, in a trade and came with label. Daniel Trinchillo wrote on the back of Houran’s label: “Dear Jim, [T]his is among the finest 5 pieces found at the mine. Beautifully twinned and incredibly gem it is to be coveted forever. I am glad you were able to acquire the specimen and hope you treasure it forever. Best, Daniel Trinchillo.” Photos of this specimen can be found in The Mineralogical Record, 2013; 44(3); 203: 2013; Minerals: The Collectors Newspaper, 2014; 8: 17; Bruce Cairncross, Minerals & Gemstones of East Africa (2019), p. 46. Described by Professor Cairncross as, “A gem-quality prismatic chromian diopside crystal.” Photo 1 by Jeff Scovil. Photo 2 by Mark Mauthner. Recently also featured in the book, Refined Elegance (Mineralogical Record, Nov. 2022) on page 133.