Nevada Nugget Hunters

RexB · Site Admin Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 566

Specimen of the week:

Mineral: Dioptase
Origin: Kazakhstan
Dimensions: 2 7/8"x2"x1 3/8"

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Goldfinger · Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 64

RexB:

Nice specimen.. When diaptase came out years ago- most of them were from Africa and had some type of black mineral as matrix. Not sure what it was. Have no idea what you paid for yours gut at one time they were in the thousands. Of course the prices came down as more became available from other locations. Thanks for showing.

Steve

RexB · Site Admin Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 566

Goldfinger,
You're right, the African dioptase is expensive. However, I had no idea it was that costly when it was first discovered. The color green is really amazing and as you know, the color appears richer than most emeralds. It was really hard to capture the color on film, even with photoshop. The African specimens are still more expensive at least compared to the "Russian" ones, more are probably on the market now but I'm not sure how much is still being produced over there. Crystals there have great color but it might be a little rarer to have comparatively larger "crystaled" specimens over there. You still pay a premium if your specimen is from someplace like the Congo. I would imagine an African specimen this size could go for a hundred thirty plus dollars. This specimen is one of the more expensive ones in my collection and was still a good bargain at under nintey dollars. Compared to other similar specimens I had viewed I couldn't let this one slip by at that price.

Rex
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If first you don't succeed...

Goldfinger · Joined: 15 Jul 2006 Posts: 64

RexB:

I don't remember exactly when they first came out but it must have been in the 70's. They were fairly large ones which might explain in part why they were so much at the time. Diaptase had always been a favorite of mine with the brilliant green colors on black matrix. I'm not really active any more in minerals so I have no idea what's coming from where these days.(at least compared to my younger days)

That specimen you have is a really nice one and a relative bargain- given the prices in the past.

Steve