Dioptase (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Sanda Carriere (Sanda Mine), Mindouli, Mindouli District, Pool Department, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville)
Thumbnail, 2.7 x 1.7 x 1.5 cm
Start Time: 01/10/2019 6:45:00 pm (CST)
End Time: 01/17/2019 6:45:00 pm (CST)
Auction Closed

Item Description

A confirmed piece of Dioptase from the Sanda Mine near Mindouli in Republic of Congo (not DR Congo). I make a point that this is confirmed from the Sanda Mine, because there are a lot of pieces out there simply labeled as coming from Kimbedi or Mindouli, which are not really localities, but approximations. Sharp, well-formed, lustrous, very good sized, rich emerald green trigonal crystals of Dioptase free of matrix comprise this attractive thumbnail sized specimen. The piece has good three-dimensional form and really looks good from several angles. It's in good shape overall despite a few nicks here and there. A nice overall specimen that would make a good addition to a copper species suite, a thumbnail collection or a Congolese mineral collection. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#12717). Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017).

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