Dioptase from Morenci is a thing of rarity, and seldom do you see any large plates of quality. This is an extremely rare and fine example, with large crystals for the locale and rich coverage. It is an important example of dioptase from a US locale, and many people aren't even aware they exist as they are just so hard to come by. Collected in the 1980s, and ex Harold Urish collection

Dioptase from Morenci is a thing of rarity, and seldom do you see any large plates of quality. This is an extremely rare and fine example, with a solidly covered display face AND a pocket in the side that are completely filled with large crystals for the locale, and extremely rich coverage. The top surface features sharp little dioptaes against a sparkling druse of quartz, for contrast. Unusual! It is an important example of dioptase from a US locale, and many people aren't even aware they exist as they are just so hard to come by. Collected in the 1980s, and ex Harold Urish collection . MUCH BETTER IN PERSON!

One of the finest Kaokoveld dioptase specimens I have seen, with a quality of lustre and color equivalent to Tsumeb dioptase, and an aesthetic arrangement uncommon from this location in larger diops (which tend to be boring flattish plates more than 3-D agregates as this one. The contrasting blue chrysocolla accent is a wonderful finishing touch. This piece just radiates color and shows like its worth 10k...well, the simple fact of the matter is that the Kaok material simply goes for about 1/3 what a same-sized Tsumeb specimen of similar quality would go for. There is simply more premium put on the Tsumeb material, much of which came out in the 1970s, compared to teh Kaok material which has come out since the mid 1980s. I do not think this pricing difference to be entirely warranted, but it exists and I feel that I must price this one accordingly even though I do truly feel its a 10k piece if only from a locality only a few hundred klicks away. For that matter, it really IS a superb piece for this locality, of which there are few equals - and hence of a higher stature relative to Kaok dioptase specimens found than to Tsumeb pieces of which there are admittedly better and bigger (and much pricier) specimens out there. The chrysocolla association is unique to this localiy and is not found at Tsumeb.