Diopside (Chromian Diopside - GEMMY) (ex Richard A. Kosnar Collection)

Item Description

A superb classic old time specimen of fine rich green colored chromium-bearing Diopside from the famous locality at Outokumpu, Finland. The crystals on this piece measure up to 3.2 cm long (though the largest crystal is not 100% complete at the base). which are intermixed with several other "Chrome Diopside" prisms and either Chalcopyrite or Pyrrhotite. The main crystal is not only well-terminated, sharp, and lustrous, but it's actually GEMMY with that amazingly rich glowing emerald green color. There are some good quality, distinct crystal faces that can be seen on several of the Diopside crystals, but many of them are only partial to incomplete due to the nature of their growth. A great historic specimen from the locality that produced some of the fines crystals of Uvarovite in the world. From the collection of Richard A. Kosnar, one of the greatest mineral dealers of his day and the namesake for the phosphate species Kosnarite (acquired from the collection of Franz Lammer of Leoben-Göss, Austria). We had a retail value on this one of $3,500.