Dioptase with Wulfenite (ex Dave Bergman Collection)

Item Description

When it comes to Dioptase, there is no locality greater or more prolific than Tsumeb for quantity and quality. The finest Tsumeb Dioptases are simply breathtaking, and now in very short supply on the market. This specimen exhibits deep emerald green color (difficult to replicate in photos) that made these specimens so famous. The crystals themselves measure up to 7 mm and while most are in excellent condition, some of them are clearly damaged. The final touch to these sharp, lustrous trigonal Dioptase crystals is the fact that they are associated with orange tabular crystals of Wulfenite measuring up to 4 mm. This combination of Dioptase and Wulfenite is only seen in a few places on earth, at least with regard to display quality specimens, and the Tsumeb pieces are highly desirable these days. I don't have to tell you that the value of Tsumeb specimens seems to rise daily, and fine quality specimens are now highly sought after, and prized more than ever by dealers and collectors alike. From the collection of Colorado mining legend, Dave Bergman. Dave is now retired, but among other things, he was the foreman and primary person in charge of recovering specimens at the famous Sweet Home Mine near Alma, Colorado during the late 1970s. He is also the maternal grandfather of Brian Kosnar. See Dave's photo mining at the Sweet Home on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".