Name:

dioptase

A photo of the mineral dioptase

Class:

Silicates

Chemistry:

CuSiO2(OH)2 hydrous copper silicate

Color(s):

green, blue, deep green , Streak: green

Hardness:

5.0

SpecGrav:

3.28 - 3.53

Fracture:

conchoidal

Cleavage:

perfect in 3 directions

Crystal:

hexagonal (often rhombohedral)

Envronment:

formed in hydrothermal alteration zones

Association:

malachite, azurite, chrysocolla, brochanite

Locals:

| Chile | Congo | Namibia | Zaire | USSR | Arizona,California/USA |

Misc:

From the Greek "diopteia", meaning "to see through", most small crystals are transparent with many small cleavage fractures. It was first mistaken for emerald.

Photos
& Locals:

1.) Karganda Oblast, Kazachstan
2.) Karganda Oblast, Kazachstan
3.) Khirgiz steppes, Kazakhstan
4.) Khirgiz steppes, Kazakhstan
5.) Tantara Mine, Mumbi, Shaba Prov., Zaire

6.) Tantara Mine, Mumbi, Shaba Prov., Zaire
7.) Tsumb, Nambia, Africa
8.) Tsumb, Nambia, Africa
9.) Tsumb, Nambia, Africa

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