Dioptase (gemmy crystals)

Item Description

Going back to the mid 2000s, we started seeing various localities in the Republic of the Congo yield some wonderful specimens of Dioptase. The best of these pieces are certainly among the best and most recognized examples from any locality in the modern era of mineral collecting. This piece is a lovely example from the Ntola Mine featuring rather gemmy trigonal prisms of sharp, lustrous, rich emerald green Dioptase measuring up to 1.3 cm, with no matrix. The piece is nearly a "floater", as it's crystallized on the back, with only a tiny spot of attachment that I can find. Good quality and really attractive in person, especially with backlighting.