A selection of specimens from recent a recent find of diopase, made late last year. Of particular note are the beautiful combinations with yellow mimetite, that display an especially pleasing color combination. Please note, these are from the *Republic of* Congo, not the *Democratic* Republic of Congo. They are two separate countries-- the latter is the larger one that used to be called Zaire and is most famous for its uranium and Copper Crescent minerals. The Republic of Congo is the smaller nation bordering it to the west.... it is very irksome to me when I see dealers label things as The Congo without bothering to specify which one, especially when they are mixing minerals that are obviously from hundreds of miles apart in two separate countries.....
A cabinet sized combination specimen of green dioptase with beautifully contrasting yellow mimetite. The dioptase crystals are arranged in ball-shaped aggregates, which are clustered together over the mimetite coated matrix. The visual balance and contrast on this one are exceptional.
A very beautiful piece from this interesting new find!
A wonderful sized combination specimen of green dioptase with beautifully contrasting yellow mimetite. The dioptase crystals are arranged in ball-shaped aggregates, which are clustered together over the mimetite coated matrix.
A cabinet sized combination specimen of green dioptase with beautifully contrasting yellow mimetite. The dioptase crystals are arranged in ball-shaped aggregates, which are clustered together over the mimetite coated matrix.
A beautiful cabinet sized example of dioptase crystals on matrix, from recent finds at the Ntola Mine. As with many of these, given the rudimentary mining methods, there are some scuffs... but the piece is exactly as shown.
A wonderful sized combination specimen of green dioptase with beautifully contrasting yellow mimetite. The dioptase crystals are arranged in ball-shaped aggregates, which are clustered together over the mimetite coated matrix. There is some stubborn dirt not he right side of the piece.
This one does a particularly good job of illustrating how the more famous radiating/ circular pseudomorphs are found-- a lot of them started off as a bubbly looking layer with a hollow space underneath. In the case of those specimens, that layer is just broken off the matrix to reveal the sparkly underside. This piece has some of the attractive dioptase/ mimetite combination on the main face, but on the side also illustrates the bubbly, crust like habit of the material.