Dioptase on Calcite ex Zukowski Coll

Item Description

Classic Tsumeb material of the best combo - green dioptase on white crystalline calcites! Glassy and gemmy, colorless, calcite rhombs, to 2 mm across drapes a rocky matrix that is studded with hundreds of glassy and gemmy, thalo-green, dioptase crystals, to 5 mm across. Nearly all are pristine, though there is admittedly some (minor) peripheral bruising. Nevertheless, the overall impact is astonishing - the for sheer luster and color contrast this piece is simply one of the brightest such we have seen for sheer "pizzazz." Many of the dioptase crystals are, as a bonus, doubly terminated. They are top percentile in color and gemminess for this style, like little jewels. This came out in the mid-1980s and nothing like this combination has been found since either at Tsumeb (now closed) or other dioptase locales. But aside from the closed locality value, this is just on its own merits a beautiful specimen! Valued $1800-2000