Dioptase (Bedogne Coll.)

Item Description

Very rich emerald-green, lustrous, translucent, dioptase crystals, to 2.1 cm (doubly terminated), are dramatically and aesthetically clustered on the contrasting large gossan matrix plate. This impressive old-timer is from the largest open pit copper mine worked by the French between 1948 to 1960. More specimens were collected in the area by artisanal miners in recent times. The outstanding large crystal cluster is essentially pristine with only a few small bruised crystals. The noted periphery wear is certainly acceptable in the context of this important large old-timer from the Francesco Bedogne Collection # 539. Dr. Bedogne, 1942-2012, was a well-known Italian mineralogist, prolific author, field collector and collector. Read his biography in the Mineralogical Record Biographical Archive: http://www.minrec.org/labels.asp?colid=118. Valued at $2500-3000 for quality, size and richness.