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ex. Charlie Key
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.
ex. Charlie Key
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
ex. Charlie Key
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.
ex. Charlie Key
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
ex. Charlie Key
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
ex. Charlie Key
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.
ex. Charlie Key
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!
ex. Charlie Key
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.
ex. Charlie Key
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.
ex. Charlie Key
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.
ex. Charlie Key
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.
ex. Charlie Key
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!
ex. Charlie Key
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.
ex. Dr. Edward David
Crystals to 2 cm of top color saturation and top lustre dominate this large plate of dioptase on calcite matrix! This is a top-shelf dioptase of a calibre that most of us will never see in person, and they get more rare nad more pricey every year. Tsumeb is gone for good, and these stand as one of the great finds of the century fron this mine. There are many NICE specimens, but few that move up to the next level and are truly world-class. This one, I would say, is world class. There are larger specimens out there, and even more pricey specimens out there for sale that I know of (of various styles), but few better. Nearly pristine despite its size, this piece has just a few tiny , trivial dings on its whole length! Comes with custom engraved lucite base, for easy display.
ex. Ernie Schlichter
This locality features dioptase with the potential to be generally larger than its Tsumeb relatives, and this piece shows the trait off well! This aesthetic rosette of radiating dioptase crystals displays the variegated, intense, emerald green color so often seen in the Reneville specimens. Several crystals display gemmy highlights and most have incredible luster that is nearly impossible to photograph so it is better in person. There is some peripheral contact around the edges but the central and main crystals are in good shape. The individual crystals reach over 1.5 cm in length.
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share specimen![Dioptase on Quartz from Christoph Mine, Kaokoveld, Namibia [db_pics/new2010/di03b2.jpg]](db_pics/new2010/di03b2.jpg)
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![Dioptase from Reneville, Republic of Congo [db_pics/pics/es158a.jpg]](db_pics/pics/es158a.jpg)
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