Dioptase (classic material) (ex Bob Reynolds Collection)

Item Description

Dioptase from Tsumeb is one of the most recognized, classic and hands down beautiful material in the mineral world. The finest examples of the species were found at this most prolific locality, and they are highly sought after by collectors. The crystals on this specimen exhibit a beautiful rich emerald green color (impossible to replicate in photos) which made these specimens so famous. The crystals measure up to about 5 mm and feature sharp, lustrous and very well-formed faces with an excellent textbook trigonal shape. The crystals themselves are in good condition overall and look beautiful against the underlain white Calcite. I found a few tiny yellow Wulfenite crystals here and there, along with some olive-green colored Duftite as well. Interestingly, the piece is fairly heavy due to the fact that the matrix is partially composed on dark reddish-black Cuprite, which is rarely seen in Tsumeb Dioptase specimens in my experience . Priced at $4,500 in the inventory. From the collection of Robert (Bob) Reynolds who passed in August of 2020. Bob was a well-known fossil and mineral expert and former Curator of Earth Sciences at the San Bernardino County Museum in California. The rare phyllomanganate-chromate species Reynoldsite was named in his honor in 2011.