Natural XL Dioptase on Dolomite Specimen x 1 From Kaokoveld Namibia

A NOTE FROM NICK 
An XL 28.5 cm x 22 cm natural Kaokoveld Namibian Classic Dioptase . Extremely shiny, long, beautiful bright emerald green crystals. A Copper Mineral formed from the action of the Cu content in the Cu oxidisation zones sitting on a white Dolomite matrix with some nice golden limonite coloured quartz. It has some very nice shiny prismatic terminated crystals. This is huge piece for Dioptase and we rarely get them this size, especially from Kaokoveld. You would pay more than this if you bought this specimen in Namibia yourself, but we mined these while we were extracting Shattuckite rough material.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 
Namibian Dioptase – Premium Emerald Green Copper Cyclone 
Namibian Dioptase is world renowned for its intense, vivid emerald to teal green color and translucency. It comes from a few Copper Mines Worldwide, but is not common in good crystals and formations. On our side in Namibia, it was mined from Tsumeb, Kaokoveld (Kunene Region), and smaller occurrences around Omaruru and Guchab and we have it at Toprock Farm near Kombat. It often forms drusy crystallisation, and occasionally sharp, highly lustrous rhombohedral crystals, often 5–25 mm, displaying glassy vitreous lustre and strong dispersion that rivals emerald and is highly sought after by collectors worldwide.  Typical matrix is dolomite or quartz. Common inclusions and associations include: bladed malachite pseudomorphs after Dioptase, shimmering Chrysocolla coatings or drusy overgrowths, scattered azurite crystals, blue-green Shattucite, cerussite, duftite, mottramite, wulfenite, Mimetite, and occasional calcite crystal inclusions or coatings. Specimens range from isolated gemmy singles to dramatic cavity clusters with explosive, multi-directional crystal sprays that are considered the global benchmark for the species.

PRODUCT MINERALS 
Calcite, Dolomite, Quartz

PRODUCT FEATURES 
Rhombohedral, Transparent, Gemmy

PRODUCT COLOUR 
Emerald Green

MOHS HARDNESS SCALE
3.5

PRODUCT DATA
Locality = Kaokoveld, Namibia
Grade = Very Good Grade                      
Size = 285 x 228 x 103 mm