Dioptase inclusions in Quartz

$6,500.00

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The ArkenstoneFeatured

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Gemmy, lustrous emerald-green dioptase crystals to 1.1 cm are aesthetically set on quartz crystals from the famous and historic Renéville copper deposit in the Republic of Congo. But that is not the main feature here — what is more unusual, and sought after, are the inclusions WITHIN the quartz! There are dozens of bright intense green dioptase crystals, to a few millimeters in size, within the quartz — something that is so rare in nature, it is hard to understand how this even happens at the temperatures and pressures of the creation of such combinations. This is a large and rich example of this rare combination; and inclusions of a copper species within quartz would be rare and large from any locality. One of the rarest of inclusions, overall. Note the specimen is as it was purchased 50 years ago, not through a lab. It does have a small ding on one quartz point, that could easily be fixed in the lab with a small restoration. Since this is only visible closeup, and not from out of the hand, we did not bother to add material to an already beautiful cabinet piece of such size. It is trivial in context but mentioned for the sake of accuracy and honesty here. That being said, this is one of only a handful of such specimens that have come back to the market in, literally, decades. Material of this quality dates to the 1960s or early 1970s, plus a few more modern finds (similar, though less vibrant, from different African localities). At #20066 in the collection, we know this was from the famous old finds! Dr. Erika Pohl-Ströher #20066