Locations: Kazakhstan, Iran, Namibia, Congo, Argentina, Chile, USA
What is Dioptase?
Bright green Dioptase would make a superb gemstone to rival emerald in color, where it not for its softness and easily set-off cleavage. It is very popular with mineral collectors, but its extreme fragility means that, although it can be cut into a collector’s gemstone, these are very susceptible to mechanical shock, and will shatter if exposed to ultrasonic cleaning; even mineral specimens of Dioptase must be carefully handled and stored. The name Dioptase refers to the gem’s highly transparent crystals, from the Greek for “to see through”.