1.9" Gemmy Dioptase Cluster on Dolomite - Ntola Mine, Congo

This is a very nice cluster of dioptase crystals from the Ntola Mine of the Republic of Congo. The entire specimen is 1.9" tall and the lustrous, rich green crystals reach up to about .3" long. They have a saturated, dark emerald-green color with well defined crystals, all atop a dolomite encrusted matrix.

The dioptase cluster has been mounted to an acrylic display stand.

About Dioptase

Dioptase is a showstopper in the mineral world—an electrifying copper silicate known for its mesmerizing, emerald-green color that seems to glow from within. Its vivid hues rival even the finest emeralds, but it’s the crystal clarity and intense brilliance that make collectors’ hearts race. Found in arid, copper-rich environments like the deserts of Namibia and Kazakhstan, dioptase forms stunning prismatic crystals that sparkle like tiny green beacons against contrasting matrix rock. While too soft for most jewelry, it’s a favorite among mineral collectors and museums for its sheer visual impact. Dioptase isn’t just a mineral—it’s nature’s answer to green fire in crystal form.

Dolomite is an anhydrous carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate (CaMg(CO3)2).

The mineral dolomite crystallizes in the trigonal-rhombohedral system. It forms white, tan, gray, or pink crystals. Dolomite is a double carbonate, having an alternating structural arrangement of calcium and magnesium ions. It does not rapidly dissolve in dilute hydrochloric acid as calcite does. Crystal twinning is common.

Dolomite was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1768, and in 1791 it was described as a rock by the French naturalist and geologist Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu. He first recognized the material in buildings of the old city of Rome, and later as samples collected in the mountains known as the Dolomite Alps of northern Italy.


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DETAILS
SPECIES
Dioptase & Dolomite
LOCATION
Ntola Mine, Mindoili District, Republic of Congo
SIZE
1.9 x .95"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#130498