Dioptase on Calcite

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A colorful specimen with deep green Dioptase crystals twinkling on the top of Calcite rhombohedra, absolutely unique in style and coming ONLY from one particular pocket in the 1980s... The Dioptase are selectively deposited on, and as inclusions just under the surface of, the interior Calcite rhombohedra such that they leave a rim, or partial rim, of clear to translucent Calcite at the very periphery of the crystals. The Dioptase looks like sugary green sprinkles on a Christmas cookie! They add great visual contrast and aesthetics to this piece and are mineralogically interesting due to their select deposition on and in the Calcite crystals. The largest Calcite rhomb is 3 cm across the diamond-shaped rhombohedron diagonal. The Calcite also exhibits a rich pinkish-red fluorescence. There is only some very minor contacting in places around the periphery and the overall aesthetics are excellent! Even better in person due to the difficulty of capturing dioptase color and sparkle in film. From finds at the famous Tsumeb Mine in the 1980's.