Main index --- Minerals list --- Copper index Dioptase
Name:Dioptase
Derivation:From "dia" & "optazein" (Greek) to see through
Formula: CuSiO2(OH)2
Description: Dioptase has brilliant green transparent crystals. We found this stone hard to photograph. It is a far more vivid green than this. The grey part round the back is a piece of rock where the crystals grow, called the "matrix".

People often think that gemstones are precious because they are beautiful. In fact, Dioptase is a brilliant glittering green transparent crystal and I think it's more attractive than emerald. Unfortunately, it's quite soft. Gemstones have to be hard. The stones are cut with faces that enhance the glitter, and if the faces get rubbed or scratched then the effect is lost. Also, gemstones need to be held in their metal settings, and a soft stone would soon wear loose, and drop out. This means that you can buy a beautiful stone to admire quite cheaply, as long as you don't want to wear it as jewelry. The precious gemstones, like quartz, emerald, topaz, sapphire and ruby are very hard. Diamond, the favourite gem, is the hardest substance known to mankind.

Dioptase was used as a pigment by the Russians in their icons (religious paintings) since the mineral is found in Siberia.

Larger picture of Dioptase:

This specimen is natural, showing the vivid green dioptase crystals.

Dioptase