Dioptase on Calcite

This excellent example of bright emerald green Dioptase crystals on white Calcite is from the world famous Tsumeb mine in Namibia and is without doubt the mineral species most readily associated with this mine.  Bright glassy lustrous Dioptase crystals are quite densely scattered over the snow-white crystallised Calcite, yet with sufficient Calcite between crystal groups so as to better highlight the Dioptase, a desirable trait in such specimens.  The Calcite coats a rusty brick red matrix of granular Dolomite.  Individual Dioptase crystals grade from transparent outer surfaces to more translucent interiors, so producing an overall gemmy quality.  This is a beautiful small cabinet example of classic Dioptase on Calcite from Tsumeb.