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Mineral Specimens with Dioptase
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Fine dioptase specimens like this are one of the holy grail desires for collectors. It is a SUPERB miniature! This fine matrix dioptase specimen is highlighted by a shockingly freestanding, complete-all-around, large 1.5 cm crystal. The crystal is fat, too, and very equant. The crystal is glassy and gemmy with a dark, emerald green color, that glows when backlit. A fine dioptase miniature that would be VERY hard to beat. Put it this way, the original label from the Zweibels, who were known for being pretty reasonable on prices from Tsumeb as they bought at the source in its heyday, was $1950. That was a TON of money 20 years ago for a dioptase miniature! Their original label here notes they got it from the collection of Dr. John Innes, Tsumeb mine geologist in the 1970s. He sold it to Julius and Miriam Zweibel, who then sold it to Stuart Strife of Houston who has kept it all these years. The back of thelabel seems to be written in Innes'hand, "East 19th stope, 30th level." Innes was known to have self-colected (at night?) many of the specimens in his collection, which the Zweibels dispersed quickly. Bottom line, you canot find many dioptase miniatures of such class as this one, pedigree aside.
ex. Eric Asselborn
This remarkable specimen features one of the largest single dioptase crystals I have ever seen or heard of, smack in the middle (3.2 cm or 1.33 inches). It has intense color, the top deep green hue you would want: riveting in the intensity. Completely free of damage, this is a MAJOR Tsumeb dioptase the liks of which was not common even in the day when they were coming out. It has been in Eric's collection for 20 years. Dioptases from Tsumeb, along with Rhodos from Sweet Home Mine, just go up in value every year; as they stand among the "sexiest" of mineral specimens and their source is now defunct. I have seen many dioptase speicmens priced in teh 20-50 and even higher price ranges in recent years. Every year sees higher prices. However, that being said, I have NOT seen a piece comparable in terms of crystal size and impact - some are larger specimens or show isolated crystals more dramatically, but for overall significance I think this one is a real value for what you get for the money.
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Rob Lavinsky, rob@irocks.com
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