Chrome Diopside - Specimen

Locality: Inagli Massif, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Siberia, Russia

According to GIA, Russia is the primary source of gem-quality chrome diopside, mined primarily in eastern Siberia at the Inagli deposit in the Sakha Republic. Harsh weather and terrain limit mining there to the summer months, which keeps supplies limited. Its saturated green first made it popular as a more affordable alternative to emerald, and it is now increasingly sold as a gem in its own right.

The Inagli deposit lies in the Inagli massif, a body of potassium-rich alkaline ultrabasic rock in the northwestern Aldan Shield of Yakutia. A 2008 study in Geochemistry International described Inagli chrome diopside as highly transparent and intensely green, with 0.13 to 0.75% chromium oxide. It found that tiny inclusions in the crystals trapped droplets of sulfate-rich salt melt, which fully melted again when heated to about 770 to 850 °C in the lab.

Diopside is moderately hard, at 5.5 to 6.5 on the Mohs scale, and has a vitreous lustre. It typically forms prismatic crystals with nearly square cross sections, and it can also occur as granular, columnar or layered masses.

This one of a kind Chrome Diopside mineral specimen from Russia has a low, elongated rough form with dark forest-green to black-green coloration and brighter chrome-green areas showing through along chipped edges and broken crystal faces. The piece has a glassy, uneven surface with natural fractures, small pockets, and scattered white matrix caught in the cracks. Its shape is flatter and more blade-like than blocky, giving it a good profile for display while still keeping the raw, rugged look of natural Russian Chrome Diopside.

Sourced from Russia—one of the world’s primary locations for high-quality chromium diopside—this specimen is an excellent addition for mineral collectors, crystal enthusiasts, or anyone who appreciates natural gemstones in their original form. Its unique structure and coloration ensure that no two pieces are alike.

In crystal traditions, chrome diopside is associated with the heart chakra, compassion and renewal.

Quantity: 1pc
With this product, you will get the actual stone in the photograph.