Dioptase included Calcite

Item Description

More than two dozen, mint-green tinted, rhombohedral Calcite crystals are mounded in an attractive cluster and have abundant, very fine Dioptase crystals included within them! The Calcite crystal faces and edges are sharp and crystals measure up to 2 cm on edge. Select faces show the color and other faces do not. The growth history is seemingly simple; however, select edges of the Calcite crystals and the bottom of the piece reveal a more complex history. An early stage of white Calcite was overgrown by a later stage of off-white Calcite that was interrupted by the deposition of a very thin (0.2mm) layer of emerald green Dioptase that was later, itself, overgrown by continued crystallization of Calcite! The preferential deposition of Calcite is so obvious on the piece as two sides of the crystals are consistently devoid of the Dioptase (and are transparent to translucent), whereas the top and the two other sides of the Calcite show the Dioptase growth. A fascinating specimen unique to Tsumeb!