Dioptase

specimen number:
8311170

location:
Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto, Namibia

description:
Glistening green crystals of slightly translucent dioptase beautifully scattered across all sides of matrix. Very slight damage is present on what I consider to be the backside of the piece, from the front this is in super condition. This is shown in the video. Overall very attractive and excellent for this classic material.

The Tsumeb Mine in northern Namibia is one of the most famous mineral localities in the world and was worked mainly for copper, lead, and zinc from the late 1800s until its closure in 1996. The deposit is well known for its complex oxidized zones that produced an exceptional variety of mineral species. Dioptase, a bright green copper silicate, is one of the notable minerals found at the mine. It commonly occurs as sharp, transparent to translucent crystals lining cavities in the oxidized ore. Although not as abundant as at some other localities, dioptase from Tsumeb is valued by collectors for its vivid color and well formed crystals.

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