NEW FIND OF DIOPTASE FROM KAOKOVELD with gemmy and translucent crystals of unusual habit

NEW FIND OF DIOPTASE FROM KAOKOVELD
with gemmy and translucent crystals of unusual habit

The first crystals of quality started trickling out from surface pits at this new locality, the Christoph (or Christof) Mine, in mid-2008. By 2009, the miners had gone down a bit, and weathering was less; resulting in finer quality. The result is sharp, unetched, dioptase crystals on matrix. Although some crystals look like Tsumeb material, the predominant form here is that of an unusually elongated habit, and many crystals are actually gemmy! These specimens are selected pieces from the 2009 finds, as picked by Charlie Key. They were in his collection by early 2009.

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page 1 / 2 - 17 specimens selected - next - bottom - back to the Galleries

DIOPK10-15 - Dioptase - $ 950
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
thumbnail, 3.3 x 1.1 x 1.1 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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A sharp single crystal of rather large size, with perfect termination showing a steep point. The whole crystal is highly translucent and actually also "gemmy" in some areas; and it GLOWS when backlit. A small , horizontal, thin cerussite crystal crosses the dioptase for a bit of accent. Complete all around , this is a large, dramatic, full thumbnail specimen or small miniature (toenail). IT IS A KILLER...MUCH BETTER IN PERSON THAN THE PICS CONVEY. The sheer size and perfection of this crystal would be remarkable from any locale. If it were from tsumeb, though in a slightly different style (fatter, less steeply terminated), it would not hav esuch gemminess to it and yet you could add a zero to the price.

DIOPK10-14 - Dioptase on Quartz - $ 750
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
miniature, 3.2 x 2.2 x 1.8 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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This small miniature is the most elegant piece we obtained, and looks like a snake coiled and rising up above its prey. The dioptase is floating, or hanging, or curling, upon this little shard of quartz at its core. All the dioptase is super-lustrous, very green, and translucent throughout. A sharp and special specimen, I think!

DIOPK10-11 - Dioptase with Cerussite - $ 1250
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
miniature, 4.5 x 3.8 x 1.9 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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A radial spray of pristine, glowing green , elongated dioptase crystals runs across the top of this flowery specimen. The crystals have the gemminess and transparency of this relatively new mine, which will someday be famous I predict. There is some damage to the massive dioptase knoll on which the radiating vertical crystals sit, but this is "matrix" anyhow and does not bother me visually. The brown, vitreous cerussite crystal in the middle is a nice accent. And, for the quality, they are in some ways even better than Tsumeb yet at a much lower pricepoint for a great specimen (for size of crystal but also gemminess and translucency, surely). If from Tsumeb, you really could add a zero to the price these days.

DIOPK10-10 - Dioptase - $ 4200
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
miniature, 4.5 x 3.6 x 1.9 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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This central crystal is 4.6 cm tall! I have seldom seen or heard of such a giant dioptase crystal from ANY locale. The thing is crazy big - you just keep looking to see that it surely must be a composite crystal but, it is not. It is a straight, honest to god, single large crystal. The big one is flanked by smaller crystals (mostly complete, though a few have edge contacting), all with electric green color, good lustre, and a glowing translucency that will make this pocket famous , I predict. It is hard to photograph dioptase, and I assure you these are quite better in person, this in particular. Mounted on a base, and stood in a case, it makes a very imposing full miniature. If it were from Tsumeb, you could add a zero to the price, too; but Kaokoveld is contemporary and mined more cheaply, so even great specimens do not cost as much as they should based on historical precedent for this species. Price aside though, this IS a great piece, worthy of any major collection.

DIOPK10-08 - Dioptase - $ 950
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
miniature, 3.1 x 1.3 x 1.0 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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Dioptase from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di08a.jpg]

Dioptase from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di08a.jpg]

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Dioptase from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di08b.jpg]

Dioptase from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di08b.jpg]

A sharp single crystal of rather large size, with perfect termination showing a steep point. The whole crystal is highly translucent and actually also "gemmy" in some areas; and it GLOWS when backlit. Complete all around , this is a large, dramatic, full thumbnail specimen or small miniature (toenail). IT IS A KILLER...MUCH BETTER IN PERSON THAN THE PICS CONVEY. The sheer size and perfection of this crystal would be remarkable from any locale.

DIOPK10-05 - Dioptase on Quartz - $ 1500
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
miniature, 4.7 x 3.6 x 2.9 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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A beautiful specimen, really unique in aspect, featuring sharp, swordlike dioptase crystals to about 1.5 cm. They have intense color and great translucency (gemmy when backlit) , just popping up out of sparkling, drusy quartz matrix. The combo is really quite unusual, and the stark contrast makes this among the most pretty, even if with smaller crystals, of the specimens from the find. A special miniature for the sophisticated collector, I think.

DIOPK10-04 - Dioptase on Quartz - $ 1800
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
small cabinet, 6.0 x 5.9 x 3.4 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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A remarkably unusual piece with starkly isolated crystals of dioptase, perched on quartz! The razor-sharp, pristine, major dioptase crystals reach 1.9 cm, fairly good size from any locality. While not gemmy, they are quite translucent. The smaller crystals to the lower left are also compete, though show some minor contacting. This is a unique style of combination, not similar to material yet found at other dioptase lcoalities in the isolation upon crystalline quartz matrix

DIOPK10-02 - Dioptase with Cerussite - $ 1800
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
small cabinet, 6.9 x 5.7 x 4.8 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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This is a colorful cluster of nearly massive dioptase, with admixed cerussite as well. From it spike out gem, elongated dioptase crystals to 2.1 cm! This is one of the few matrix specimens of this crystal style recovered from the mine as yet and who can say whether more will come? This habit of elognated crystals, in such gemminess, is really quite new, and beautiful. The massive dioptase knoll on which the main crystal sits has some evident damage and bruises, to be sure, but the piece is priced accordingly; and the important crystal is not damaged, despite its freestanding nature. It is partially coated on the backside by quartz, which helped to protect it.

DIOPK10-13 - Dioptase - $ 2950 SOLD
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
small cabinet, 7.5 x 5.4 x 5.1 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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Most specimens from this new mine are relatively gracile and elegant, or contain massive dioptase with small crystals shooting from it. This special piece is a relative monster, in comparison. It is a large specimen of massive dioptase, with a bit of matrix backing it, on which sit FAT, robust, squarish crystals of dioptase of huge size. That large crystal is 4.5 x 2.6 x 2.4 cm in size!!! It is contacted at the base, but is pristine on its termination and displays very dramatically. The crystals to the lower-left of the big one look oddly squarish- a habit I simply have never seen in dioptase, ever, from anywhere. Although the piece isn't perfect at the edges, it presents a display core that is impactful and shocking for the size of that central crystal; and I think is of some importance in the literal sense of the word, for the species.

DIOPK10-12 - Dioptase - $ 2750 SOLD
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
thumbnail, 3.3 x 1.7 x 0.9 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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THIS IS A KILLER THUMBNAIL, of top , competition level quality! It is GEMMY - not just translucent, but really gemmy in the gemstone-can-be-cut-from-me sense. We estimate in fact that this termination, where it splays broadest, will yield several stones in excess of a carat that would be clean, almost unheard of for dioptase. The crystal is DOUBLY-terminated, and pristine at both ends, complete all around save for a small contact on the back, near the cerussite attachment. That cerussite sticking out serves as a natural pedestal to lean the piece diagonally and make it a large box-ffilling thumbnail, instead of a small miniature (which, it can be if upright). The gemminess and transparency on this thick crystal can be seen even in normal lighting, without need of a torch - which IS needed to make only the edges even remotely see-through on some of the best Tsumeb dioptases (which now pale in gemminess to these more recent finds). This piece is SHARP. It has riveting geometry, great lustre, and that gemminess - plus a superb termination in an elongated style that is quite unique to this mine and dissimilar from classic dioptase crystals from Tsumeb, Congo, or Russia. I believe this mine will, someday, be remembered for producing the best dioptase crystals on a gram for gram basis of quality. For us, this was the most recent find represented in a small sequel of Charlie Key's collection which we bought in early 2008, but have been holding back to see what more would come from the mine. For my taste, as one last comment, I have seen many Tsumeb thumbnails i Can RESPECT, but none that simply mesmerized me like this one does, in quality and style.

DIOPK10-09 - Dioptase - $ 300 SOLD
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
thumbnail, 2.6 x 1.0 x 0.8 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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A sharp single crystal of rather large size, with perfect termination showing a steep and equant point. The whole crystal is highly translucent and actually also "gemmy" in some areas; and it GLOWS when backlit. Complete all around , this is a large, dramatic, full thumbnail specimen. IT IS A KILLER...MUCH BETTER IN PERSON THAN THE PICS CONVEY. Minor bit of associated quartz on one side...again, going to make this a special thumbnail!

DIOPK10-07 - Dioptase - $ 250 SOLD
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
thumbnail, 2.5 x 1.1 x 1.0 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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Dioptase from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di07b.jpg]

Dioptase from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di07b.jpg]

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Dioptase from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di07c.jpg]

Dioptase from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di07c.jpg]

A beautiful cluster of 3 intergrown crystals, all with perfect terminations. The whole cluster is highly translucent and actually also "gemmy" in the literal sense; and glows when backlit. Complete all around save only a very slight small contact on the back. A large, dramatic, full thumbnail specimen

DIOPK10-06 - Dioptase - $ 300 SOLD
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
thumbnail, 2.7 x 1.1 x 1.0 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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Dioptase from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di06a.jpg]

Dioptase from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di06a.jpg]

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Dioptase from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di06b.jpg]

Dioptase from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di06b.jpg]

A beautiful, splaying , cluster of seemingly twisted crystals, all with perfect terminations. The whole cluster is highly translucent and glows when backlit. A large, dramatic, full thumbnail specimen

DIOPK10-03 - Dioptase on Quartz - $ 2000 SOLD
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
small cabinet, 8.6 x 7.3 x 6.2 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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Deep green crystals , some doubly-terminated, here reach about 1.5 cm and are clustered richly on quartz matrix. This specimen is pristine , except only for a few tivial peripheral crystals to the left or bottom depending on how you display it. It looks good horizontal, and vertical both. The crystals are sharp and 3-dimensional and "pop" out at you - looking for all the world as if they were glued onto the quartz matrix, because they are so remarkably freestanding! A choice cherrypicked specimen. When shipped to us, it was a protected pocket, from which this was trimmed out carefully.

DIOPK10-01 - Dioptase - gem crystal - $ 200 SOLD
Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia
thumbnail, 1.7 x 0.7 x 0.7 cm

ex. Charlie Key

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Dioptase - gem crystal from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di01b.jpg]

Dioptase - gem crystal from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di01b.jpg]

A gemmy, transparent crystal, pristine and complete all around. Although it has some veils, it still would cut a few nice gems�but as is, makes a superb thumbnail.

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page 1 / 2 - 17 specimens selected - next - top - back to the Galleries

Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com

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