Dioptase, Shattuckite. Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia. 13.3 x 7.9 x 6.1 cm (5.24 x 3.11 x 2.40 in). ...

Description

Dioptase, Shattuckite
Kaokoveld Plateau, Kunene Region, Namibia
13.3 x 7.9 x 6.1 cm (5.24 x 3.11 x 2.40 in)

The contrast of colors in this classic Namibian combination is well-suited for display: the deep emerald green of the Dioptase - an instantly recognizable color - is perfectly accented by the powder-blue color of the Shattuckite matrix underneath, and the blue-green combination is aesthetically pleasing. The Shattuckite formed as a coating of small botryoides, and a few areas of this matrix are coated in a microcrystalline layer of green, possibly Malachite, Mottramite, or another secondary Copper-bearing species. Over this is a very well-balanced deposit of Dioptase: abundant over the surface of the specimen, but with crystals still isolated and beautifully arranged. These crystals are all extremely lustrous and display the neon internal fire that Dioptase is known for. The largest of these crystals is 2.2 centimeters in length, a large size. This specimen comes from the Copper deposits of the Kaokoveld Plateau, which are all worked by hand, primarily because the local miners of the area have found that this material is worth far more as specimens rather than as processed ore. Us enthusiasts can be very thankful for this!

From The Edgehill Collection.

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