Dioptase (2018 find)

Item Description

This piece came from a discovery in early 2018 in Kimbedi, Republic of Congo. Everybody knows the species Dioptase, but we almost all associate the species with Tsumeb. While the Tsumeb specimens remain the finest examples of the species ever found, the pieces coming out of Kimbedi are certainly giving them a run for their money. What I love about the specimens from this area is that the crystals range from textbook prisms to almost "spherical" group with varying habits in between. This miniature sized specimen hosts several excellent quality, razor-sharp, highly lustrous, intense emerald green color, elongated trigonal crystals of Dioptase measuring up to 1.8 cm long associated with a think layer of soft blue Plancheite on oxidized matrix. All of the Dioptase crystals are in great shape, with only VERY tiny trivial imperfections. The main group on the front corner of the piece is actually doubly-terminated to boot! As you can see from the photos, the crystals show good color and gemminess in areas when backlit. Overall this is a showy, three-dimensional, excellent quality display specimen. It's a far cry from Tsumeb, but just a special and attractive. We had it priced at $1,450 in the inventory.