Formation & Properties Dioptase

Dioptase is a trigonal emerald green hydrous copper silicate with a peculiar crystal structure. Its chemical composition is CuSiO3·H2O and it is structurally composed of hexagonal channels of tetrahedral silicate anions sandwiching hexagonal rings of water molecules assembled in a similar way to water’s packing in ice. These rings are aligned to form a channel structure which extends itself parallel to the c-axis and repeats perpendicular to it. These channels of sandwiched hexagonal silicate and water rings are interconnected by tetrahedrally coordinated copper (II) cations.

Their ligands consist of silicate and water oxygens donating a pair of electrons to vacant hybrid d-orbitals in the copper ions. The entire assembly of copper, silicate, and water resembles a six-pointed pinwheel or propeller that is packed into a trigonal unit cell. The spaces in the centers of the hexagonal silica-water channels are too small to allow for movement of water through the crystal structure or for encapsulation of other molecules like zeolites can perform. The Si-O-Si bond angle in dioptase is very close to that of benitoite.

Dioptase is relatively soft with a Moh’s hardness of 5. This makes it too prone to cracking to be used in most jewelry though faceted stones are popular among collectors. Dioptase has a conchoidal fracture but shows very good cleavage in one direction. Crystals of dioptase frequently cleave and shatter if struck parallel to the surface of the cleavage plane. Dioptase has a typical density of 3.31g/cm^3 making it a mineral of relatively low density which can be attributed to its open structure.

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Dioptase is expensive so care should be taken to select a good specimen. Pay attention to the completeness of crystals on the specimen you are looking at.

13377-02Make sure that all or most of the crystals on the specimen aren’t broken, cleaved, or dinged. Dioptase specimens with smaller, more euhedral, clearer crystals are more valuable than specimens with larger but more fractured crystals unless the latter is abnormally large.

18365_03Look for good coverage of dioptase on the specimen and fine associates. Dioptase can be associated with other valuable, beautiful minerals such as plancheite, wulfenite, shattuckite, and malachite. Specimens that feature good examples of both dioptase and another species on the same piece are worth far more than two good specimens. Expect to pay dramatically more for a specimen of this mineral from a locality of high pedigree such as Tsumeb, Namibia or Tiger, Arizona than a piece from lesser known localities with less rich of an esteem.

13366-03Dioptase has metaphysical properties as rich and powerful as its color. This mystical mineral is known for its ability to assist with heartache and betrayal. It helps balance the yin and yang and fill the void formed by the spiritually nonexistent. It is a buffer of the spirit and mind’s conditions, soother-of-moods. Dioptase assists in unlocking telepathic channels with high energy beings-of-light in alternate spiritual dimensions. There are some rumors that dioptase charms assist with spontaneous translation of the Lemurian telepathic language and deep understanding of quantum mechanics. It is not recommended that tonics or teas are prepared with dioptase as all copper compounds are highly toxic to the nervous system and major organs. Dioptase is said to help cure cancer when paired with red aventurine though this is not a cure with any evidence for working and should never under any circumstances be substituted for traditional methods.

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