Description
Detailed Description
This specimen features intense green dioptase crystals sprinkled across a background of calcite, giving excellent contrast. These are top quality dioptase crystals – sharp, glassy and very good translucence. In excellent condition, a couple of micro-crystals at the periphery are incomplete. Superb colour, sparkle and contrast – these beautiful dioptase crystals just glow under the lights with lots of internal reflections.
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About These Dioptase Specimens
Dioptase was first described from Altyn Tyube, the type locality for dioptase, in the nineteenth century. Altyn Tyube is a remarkable deposit in the Steppes, far from everywhere. It was first worked for copper thousands of years B.C., and it is interesting to note that there are very few copper minerals at the locality – dioptase with occasional minor malachite and cuprite. These beautiful specimens were mined in 2015, acquired soon afterward from the team currently conducting specimen mining at Altyn Tyube.
