Dioptase - Specimen

Mined from: Mindouli District, Pool Department, Republic of the Congo

Description: Congo's dioptase has a long history in European collections. The mineral was first noted from "Gabon" in 1874. In 1890, crystals brought back by the explorer Thollon from the Mindouli mine, between Bouenza and Brazzaville, went on display at the Paris natural history museum, where they were said to rival the classic dioptase of Siberia.

An early-1900s study of Mindouli found dioptase in limestone veins, calcite veinlets and sandstone. The finest crystals came from geode-like nodules in red clay, many collected from a stream the miners called the "ruisseau aux dioptases", the dioptase creek.

Dioptase is a hydrated copper silicate. It forms near the surface, where weathering copper ores release copper that combines with silica, and the copper gives it its intense green colour.

This one of a kind dioptase specimen has a strong display presence, with densely packed crystals covering the matrix in a rich blue-green to deep emerald-teal color. The crystal faces are sharp and highly reflective, giving the piece a bright, glassy luster that catches light from multiple angles. Larger, well-formed crystals are layered across the front of the specimen, while smaller crystals fill in the surrounding spaces, creating a thick, sculptural surface with real depth. The contrast between the saturated dioptase and the pale host rock makes the color stand out even more, giving the specimen a dramatic and very clean visual balance.

Many people are drawn to dioptase for its association with emotional clarity, truth, and deep inner release. It is often chosen by those who feel ready to let go of old resentment or mental clutter and make room for a more honest sense of peace. Its vivid color gives it a strong presence in a space, and collectors often feel that it carries an energy of renewal, insight, and heart-centered reflection.

With this product, you will get the actual stone in the photograph.

Chemical Composition: CuSiO3·H2O