Dioptase on and included in Calcite

Tsumeb Mine, Tsumeb, Oshikoto Region, Namibia
Ex. David Schorsch, Marshall Sussman
Small Cabinet, 7.0 x 6.0 x 5.4 cm
Start Time: 01/30/2025 7:00:00 pm (CST)
End Time: 02/08/2025 6:30:00 pm (CST)
Auction Closed
Winning Bid: $4,055

Item Description

Dioptase, or poor man's emerald as they once called it, is THE classic Tsumeb mineral to most of us, despite so many other good things from that amazing mine. Of all dioptase specimens, the BEST combo is with contrasting white-crystallized-sparkling calcite. But those are so very rare! This particular specimen is notable and was in the best Tsumeb collection in the country in the late 1990s, for its style and perfection. This is a stunning small cabinet specimen of the revered emerald-green Dioptase crystals gracing numerous gemmy rhombs of white Calcite from Tsumeb! It's quite a unique piece with unusually isolated Dioptase crystals scattered about relatively large rhombs of translucent to transparent Calcite AND the Calcite overgrows the Dioptase crystals in places so that they float inside! The larger Dioptase crystals are so luminous with their dark, emerald green color; with the smaller ones being gemmy and transparent! The Dioptase crystals vary in size from from 1 mm to 1.2 cm and occur as loners or in loosely clustered groups with all of them showing off very well against the translucent, white Calcite. Calcite rhombs average about 1 cm in size, however, some, like the one at the top of the piece, measure 1.5 cm in maximum dimension! Dioptase is of two distinct generations: the earlier generation of crystals are all small, 1 to 3 mm, and nearly all of these are enclosed by the latest generation of transparent Calcite growth on the rhombs, whereas, the larger Dioptase crystals are distinctly part of a later generation and are placed ON the Calcite crystals. An exceptional and truly UNIQUE small cabinet Dioptase and Calcite combo from Tsumeb! Ex. David A. Schorsch collection; and before him, this was in the first Sussman Tsumeb collection (at the time, the best overall Tsumeb collection around; and sold to us in 2003). Valued $7500.

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Bidding History

Bid Amount Bid Time
$4,055 02/08/2025 6:21:19 pm (CST)
$4,005 02/08/2025 6:21:19 pm (CST)
$3,900 02/08/2025 6:20:59 pm (CST)
$3,850 02/08/2025 6:20:59 pm (CST)
$3,800 02/08/2025 6:20:52 pm (CST)
$3,750 02/08/2025 6:20:52 pm (CST)
$3,650 02/08/2025 5:56:32 pm (CST)
$3,600 02/08/2025 5:56:32 pm (CST)
$3,550 02/08/2025 5:56:18 pm (CST)
$3,500 02/08/2025 5:56:18 pm (CST)
$3,400 02/08/2025 5:56:09 pm (CST)
$3,350 02/08/2025 5:56:09 pm (CST)
$3,260 02/08/2025 5:56:00 pm (CST)
$3,210 02/08/2025 5:56:00 pm (CST)
$3,160 02/08/2025 5:55:52 pm (CST)
$3,110 02/08/2025 5:55:52 pm (CST)
$3,060 02/06/2025 4:08:06 am (CST)
$3,010 02/06/2025 4:08:06 am (CST)
$2,250 02/05/2025 9:50:23 pm (CST)
$2,200 02/05/2025 9:50:23 pm (CST)
$1,250 02/03/2025 12:19:46 pm (CST)
$1,200 02/03/2025 12:19:46 pm (CST)
$913 02/01/2025 4:49:18 pm (CST)
$888 02/01/2025 4:49:17 pm (CST)
$690 02/01/2025 4:48:59 pm (CST)
$665 02/01/2025 4:48:59 pm (CST)
$275 01/31/2025 12:45:25 pm (CST)
$265 01/31/2025 12:45:25 pm (CST)
$110 01/31/2025 2:30:52 am (CST)
$100 01/31/2025 2:30:52 am (CST)
$65 01/31/2025 12:45:20 am (CST)
$55 01/31/2025 12:45:20 am (CST)
$50 01/31/2025 12:37:11 am (CST)
$45 01/31/2025 12:37:11 am (CST)
$10 01/30/2025 7:54:27 pm (CST)