Description
Dioptase on calcite from the Tsumeb mine in Namibia: a true classic! Back in the eighties, as Gebhard noted in his book Tsumeb (1999), dioptase was so abundant that dealers were practically begging for something—anything—other than this “boring” green. How times have changed! Today, collectors can only dream of finding more of this glorious color. Another major discovery seems unlikely, so we must rely on treasures resurfacing from older collections. Here we have such a piece: several deep emerald-green dioptase crystals, the largest reaching 7 mm, elegantly perched on snowy-white calcite. As usual, the dioptase’s rich color is nearly impossible to accurately capture with a camera, but in person it is indeed the classic deep emerald-green that collectors often dream of. Under magnification, other green, delicate tufts can also be spotted. For now, they fall into the catch-all category of “Tsumeb greens”, awaiting analysis to reveal their true identity. A specimen full of classic Tsumeb charm!
LOCATION
Namibia, Tsumeb
SIZE
4.6 cm
WEIGHT
27 g