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From the type locality for dioptase (no, it''s not Tsumeb), this mini is dominated by a fat, 1.3-cm crystal that has superb Tsumeb-like color and luster. It sits next to a euhedral calcite rhomb. As always, dioptases look better in person than in pics . . 4.5 x 3.7 x 3.3cm
Not easy to find . . a thumber of sparkly green ARIZONA dioptase! 2.8 x 1.5 x 0.8cm
What makes this Tsumeb dioptase so nice is the isolation of the bright, lustrous crystals to about 1 cm on a starkly contrasting matrix. In addition, there are two generations of crystals here, which adds real pizzazz: an earlier generation of small, sparkling crystals, and some later, larger, SUPERB ones (to one cm tip-to-tip). As with all diops, better in person than in the photos... 5.5 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm
These superb crystals of the top Tsumeb color and luster measure up to 1 cm! They are on white calcite, the optimal setting to really show them off. There are crystals all the way around this shard of matrix, which was exposed all around in the pocket. Labels show this specimen to have passed from Luis Leite to Gene Schlepp in the past. 4.9 x 2.8 x 2.7cm
Dioptase from Tsumeb is one of the staples of any great world wide collection. This piece is filled with dozens of little, sparkling, gemmy, rich emerald green color crystals on Calcite. A great specimen from one of the most classic localities in the history of minerals. 3.6 x 1.7 x 1.4cm
Dioptase is almost impossible to photograph in a way that captures the true deep green “Tsumeb” color, but suffice it to say that the dioptase here is the TOP intense green – in fact, GEMMY crystals - with GLASSY luster. The crystals are not large (they measure to just over half a centimeter), but what makes this piece so pretty is how the dioptase crystals sit on a cluster of euhedral (rhombohedral) calcite crystals, which sets them off beautifully. A few very trivial dings do not detract from the overall beauty of this specimen, and especially as it is priced very well (in my opinion), even though I think its worth more 6.5 x 5.5 x 3.5 cm
Dioptase from Tsumeb is one of the staples of any great world wide collection. This piece is filled with dozens of little, sparkling, gemmy, rich emerald green color crystals on Calcite. A great specimen from one of the most classic localities in the history of minerals. 8.3 x 4.8 x 2.9cm
This is actually the type locality for dioptase – it is not Tsumeb, as some people think! At any rate – ths specimen is not notable so much for the size of its crystals as much as for the very pretty sprinkling of the crystals over the rolling, 3-dimensional matrix of calcite. The color is a nice, bright “Tsumeb” green, and the crystals , to half a cm, have good luster! 9.5 x 7 x 4.7 cm
A showy, fine, old-time specimen of glassy and partially gemmy, dark emerald-green dioptase crystals to 9 mm nicely cresting quartz matrix from the Type Locality - Altyn-Tube, Kazakhstan. The major crystals are pristine. Fine materal with an old Ward"s label. A bit of periphery damage is certainly not detracting. Ex Richard Hauck Collection. 4.7 x 3.9 x 2.3 cm
This is a visually striking specimen that starts out with a rim of emerald green, dioptase, to .7 cm across; on which are draped sparkling, snow white, spherical clusters of crystallized quartz, to 2.0 cm across. Perched aesthetically on the quartz are two rosettes of deep green, lustrous, PRIMARY MALACHITE crystals! This is very rare, especially on matrix, and even more so on matrix of dioptase! The malachite crystals are thin, elongated "rectangles" arranged in radiating 4-cm-wide clusters like a fanspray. i have never seen a specimen like this, and with the white quartz in between the two green minerals, no less! The side is rimmed with minor bits of plancheite, a copper silicate. The color contrasts on this specimen are just superb. The 3-dimensionality is impressive. Overall, its big, unique, and incredibly beautiful. I have NEVER seen a piece like this. IF YOU ARE TEMPTED, IT IS MUCH, MUCH BETTER IN PERSON! 11.3 x 10 x 5 cm
From the type locality for dioptase, we have a BIG (2.2-cm) crystal of deep green dioptase, sharp and with fine luster. The crystal is almost an inch! If it were from Tsumeb, it would cost $10k and not look a heckuva lot different. There is only slightely less lustre on a Russian diop than on most Tsumeb specimens, really. The crystal has intergrown with some smaller crystals at its base, and has grown around a patch of matrix on the left side, but is complete. It is phenomenally aesthetic and is, I think, a rare quality for a Russian dioptase. Usually when you DO get crystals this large (RARE!), they are part of a solid cluster and not so nicely isolated. 5.6 x 5.4 x 4.3 cm
Dioptase beautiful green crystal perched atop a single euhedral crystal of calcite and measures 1.8 cm tip to tip. Near the large dioptase are a half-dozen gemmy little crystals. 4 x 3.2 x 2.0 cm
This oldtimer is an example of the species combinations for which the Mammoth Mine was so famous. Drusy, emerald green, lustrous, translucent, dioptase is associated with acicular, lustrous crystals of cerussite, to 1.2 cm in length along with a few, orange, wulfenite crystals, to .5 cm across. In fact, the whole matrix is highly porous, giving a home to the various species. 6.6 x 3.8 x 3.3 cm
The association of emerald-green dioptase on white calcite is one of the combinations that every collector wants to own, and that defines the most idealized and desired mineral specimen from Tsumeb. This is no exception. Several, deep emerald-green, lustrous crystals of dioptase that are translucent with internal highlights cover the sugary, white, calcite matrix. THE DIOPTASE CRYSTALS REACH ABOUT AN INCH IN SIZE! (to 2.5 cm in length) Dioptase crystals that reach 2 cm are extremely rare. Specimens like this, and on matrix no less....incredibly uncommon. There is damage to the back side of the large crystal termination which shows only slightly from the front side on close exam, but this admitted minor defect pales in comparison to the obvious quality and impact of the specimen. It is in good shape overall, considering the size. The crystals stand up so smartly against the matrix of smaller dioptase and calcite, that this IS simply a MAJOR specimen. Without the damage, it would be $50k, showing the premium and raity of such a piece and the value put on it by top collectors (i have seen some over 100k recently, not much better to look at them!). Obviously it was one of the major pieces in this collection, and I got it in part based on Pete room to deal thru getting it in the 1970s instead of at today's prices, but it is still not a cheap specimen nor will it ever be (ding or not). But, it IS a relative bargain, I would say, compared to both what I know to be available today and to the material I have seen for sale the last few years which is generally of steadily declining quality as these recycle into new collections and go up in value as fast as any other investment you could make in minerals today. It is one I would call investment grade, and buy back for cash on the barrelhead at any time. 6.9 x 5.5 x 2 cm
An open vug in massive dioptase ore acts as the host for a cluster of sparkling, dark emerald green, crystals of dioptase. The crystals average about 1.0 cm across. Very rich, and showy, and elegantly demonstrative of how they occur in nature in a pocket or "bubble" in the cavities! 9.2 x 7.6 x 5.8 cm
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share specimen![Dioptase from Altyn-Tyube (Altyn-Tube) deposit, Kirghiz Steppes (Asiatic Steppes), Qaraghandy Oblysy (Karaganda Oblast'), Kazakhstan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-54602a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-54602a.jpg)
![Dioptase from Morenci Mine (Morenci pit; Phelps Dodge Morenci Mine; Morenci-Metcalf), Morenci, Copper Mountain District (Clifton-Morenci District), Shannon Mts, Greenlee Co., Arizona, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-54673a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-54673a.jpg)
![Dioptase from Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia [db_pics/mdpics/MD-54862a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-54862a.jpg)
![Dioptase, Calcite from Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia [db_pics/mdpics/MD-57053a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-57053a.jpg)
![Dioptase from Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia [db_pics/mdpics/MD-57216a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-57216a.jpg)
![Dioptase, Calcite from Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia [db_pics/mdpics/MD-57598a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-57598a.jpg)
![Dioptase from Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia [db_pics/mdpics/MD-59664a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-59664a.jpg)
![Dioptase, Calcite from Altyn-Tyube (Altyn-Tube) deposit, Kirghiz Steppes (Asiatic Steppes), Qaraghandy Oblysy (Karaganda Oblast'), Kazakhstan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-61030a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-61030a.jpg)
![Dioptase, Quartz from Altyn-Tyube (Altyn-Tube) deposit, Kirghiz Steppes (Asiatic Steppes), Qaraghandy Oblysy (Karaganda Oblast'), Kazakhstan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-62280a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-62280a.jpg)
![Malachite, Plancheite, Quartz, Dioptase from Tantara Mine, Shinkolobwe, Central area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) [db_pics/mdpics/MD-64354a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-64354a.jpg)
![Dioptase from Altyn-Tyube (Altyn-Tube) deposit, Kirghiz Steppes (Asiatic Steppes), Qaraghandy Oblysy (Karaganda Oblast'), Kazakhstan [db_pics/mdpics/MD-65528a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-65528a.jpg)
![Dioptase, Calcite from Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia [db_pics/mdpics/MD-65551a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-65551a.jpg)
![Dioptase, Cerussite, Wulfenite from Mammoth-Saint Anthony Mine (Mammoth-St Anthony Mine; Mammoth Mine; St. Anthony Mine), St. Anthony deposit, Tiger, Mammoth District, Pinal Co., Arizona, USA [db_pics/mdpics/MD-65670a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-65670a.jpg)
![Dioptase, Calcite from Tsumeb Mine (Tsumcorp Mine), Tsumeb, Otjikoto (Oshikoto) Region, Namibia [db_pics/mdpics/MD-66575a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-66575a.jpg)
![Dioptase from Brazzaville (Renéville; Djoué), Brazzaville Department (Renéville Department), Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) [db_pics/mdpics/MD-66579a.jpg]](db_pics/mdpics/MD-66579a.jpg)