Diopside var. Chromian - important crystals

Item Description

This matrix of marble from the famous marble deposits of Afghanistan hosts several amazing, sharp crystals of diopside of unusual size. The diopside crystals are a deep and saturated green color due to chromium content, apparently. The diopside crystals stand 9 cm and 4 cm respectively; and are nicely nestled in the matrix for display. The larger 9 cm-tall crystal shows more depth on the back and side, with nearly 6 cm visible on the main frontal display angle, standing nicely isolated relative to the other crystal. It is a phenomenal specimen for display for any museum or collector wishing to show the variety of this region, and also hosts important crystals of this size for this rock forming species. Large diopside crystals are quite rare in nature, although small ones are fairly common. It is not gemmy, but it is geometric, contrasting, and visibly dramatic in a display case. Gene Meieran spent 30 years trying to build the broadest suite of display quality minerals from this part of the world, and this was his largest diopside specimen, from a unique find many years ago. This is the same region that produces other strange examples of rock forming minerals such as pargasite, hackmanite, lapis, etc. How to value something like this? We can only give a guide, that $5-10k seems reasonable if we saw it on a shelf at a show, from a source dealer directly.