Dioptase (RARE locale)

Item Description

Gemmy, highly lustrous, rich emerald-green dioptase crystals fill a vug on sculptural matrix on this rich and showy specimen. The striking prominent terminated crystal is 1.8 cm long. Dioptase specimens are very rare from this obscure Pb-Zn and Cu mine and district in the Republic of Congo. Choice and rare material from this uncommon locale, known for huge wulfenite crystals to nearly 2 kilograms. Old specimens from this locale probably date from the 1920s to perhaps the 1960s and based on those a recent re-mining effort was led in 2013-2014. The gemmy green color and crystal style of these dioptase crystals are unlike any from any other African locale, including Mindouli and Reneville in the Republic of Congo, copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Kaokoveld in Namibia or Tsumeb. The noted bruising is certainly only a minor detraction to this rich and showy highly representative example.