Dioptase (new find!)

Item Description

This piece came from a new find in January of 2019 at the Sanda Hills locality. Dioptase is one of those species that appeals to nearly everybody, but there are not that many localities that produce excellent specimens. Last year, we got our hands on some brand new specimens from this locale which is near the town of Mindouli in Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville). At first glance, one can almost picture this as a Tsumeb specimen, but the Dioptase crystals are sitting on a layer of drusy sparkling Quartz, which is virtually unseen from Tsumeb. The color of the Dioptase crystals is superb, with that classic emerald green hue, and they are highly lustrous with textbook trigonal form. With backlighting, the color explodes, revealing the impressive gemmy interiors of the crystals. Nearly damage free on the front, very minor imperfections. When you consider the high prices being paid for Tsumeb Dioptase specimens today, this piece is a great bargain by comparison and still has a bit of the "Tsumeb"-esque quality to it. Priced in the inventory at $950.