Dioptase on Quartz

Item Description

Dioptase is known from a few world localities in superb quality specimens, and there has been some attractive material coming out of the Congo (Brazzaville) in recent years. The best of these specimens show great color, with larger sized crystals and EXCELLENT gemminess. Here we have beautiful specimen from the discovery in January 2019. We were fortunate to pick up a parcel of these specimens, which almost remind me of the Namibian pieces that came out in the early 2000s. This particular specimen features sharp, lustrous, well-formed, trigonal rich emerald green color Dioptase crystals sitting atop drusy off-white / grey colored Quartz on matrix, forming an attractive overall specimen. There are a few contacts here and there, but the crystals are good sized, brilliant and even gemmy when backlit! The luster is very good for the material as well. The largest crystal measures 1.0 mm long. This find seemed to be somewhat limited, and hopefully will produce more of this excellent quality Dioptase. With the price of Tsumeb Dioptase specimens rising daily, this is a great opportunity to snag a "Tsumeb"-like specimen of this species for a fraction of the price. There are only a few places in the world that are producing any good specimens of Dioptase, and this piece is a nice small cabinet display specimen of this lesser seen material. Priced at $1,500 in the inventory.