| Dioptase has a pretty, bright, emerald-green color that occurs in short,
prismatic, and rhombohedral crystals up to two inches in length. It is too
soft for wear in jewelry. An uncommon mineral, it usually appears crystallized
in large druses in cavities near the surface of copper deposits. Its color
is the admixtures of copper. It has no use as a copper ore. Exceptional
crystals of dioptase are from Altyn Tybe, Kirghizia, USSR; Tiger, Arizona;
Copiapoo, Chile; near Mindouli, Congo; and especially at Tsumeb, Namibia.
Dioptase found here are fine, bright crystals that form atop sharp white
calcite crystals. |
