Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic Time
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral Quiz
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography
╳Discussions
💬 Home🔎 Search📅 LatestGroups
EducationOpen discussion area.Fakes & FraudsOpen discussion area.Field CollectingOpen discussion area.FossilsOpen discussion area.Gems and GemologyOpen discussion area.GeneralOpen discussion area.How to ContributeOpen discussion area.Identity HelpOpen discussion area.Improving Mindat.orgOpen discussion area.LocalitiesOpen discussion area.Lost and Stolen SpecimensOpen discussion area.MarketplaceOpen discussion area.MeteoritesOpen discussion area.Mindat ProductsOpen discussion area.Mineral ExchangesOpen discussion area.Mineral PhotographyOpen discussion area.Mineral ShowsOpen discussion area.Mineralogical ClassificationOpen discussion area.Mineralogy CourseOpen discussion area.MineralsOpen discussion area.Minerals and MuseumsOpen discussion area.PhotosOpen discussion area.Techniques for CollectorsOpen discussion area.The Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryOpen discussion area.UV MineralsOpen discussion area.Recent Images in Discussions
Identity HelpWhat is the locality of this Dioptase?
17th Aug 2019 21:31 UTCTama Higuchi Manager
I bought this Dioptase (on Calcite, I believe) a couple years ago, and since then I have irresponsibly misplaced the label, and I cannot remember what the locality for this specimen is.
I know that most Dioptase come from Altyn-Tyube in Kazakhstan, Mindouli in Congo, and Tsumeb Mine or Kaokoveld in Namibia. I compared this pictured Dioptase to my Altyn-Tube specimen, and the matrices look very different. Because of that I'm leaning towards either the Congo or Namibia.
If anyone has an idea, please let me know! I understand that localities are difficult to figure out for sure, but I thought I'd ask a knowledgable community like you guys.
17th Aug 2019 21:45 UTCTama Higuchi Manager
17th Aug 2019 22:29 UTCFrank K. Mazdab 🌟 Manager
17th Aug 2019 22:34 UTCTama Higuchi Manager
But the main crystal, the teal-colored ones coating the calcite, is definitely dioptase.
18th Aug 2019 00:51 UTCFrank K. Mazdab 🌟 Manager
14th Sep 2019 07:51 UTCJolyon Ralph Founder
17th Aug 2019 23:16 UTCErin Delventhal Manager
17th Aug 2019 23:20 UTCPaul Brandes 🌟 Manager
17th Aug 2019 23:22 UTCTama Higuchi Manager
18th Aug 2019 00:49 UTCMark Heintzelman 🌟 Expert
18th Aug 2019 02:16 UTCHiro Inukai
In the second photo, about halfway down the image vertically, and 1/5th the width from the right-hand edge, there's a cluster of very tiny euhedral elongated crystals visible, but the magnification is not sufficient to provide stronger evidence of the species. It does look like dioptase. An image of this area of the specimen shot through a handheld 10x loupe may be enough for conclusive identification.
Note that many digitally captured images of dioptase give the appearance of the mineral as being more teal or blue than it appears to the human eye--this is well-documented as a photographic challenge (you can find the thread somewhere in the photography forum here). So the color here is not in contradiction to the claimed species. Moreover, it is also known that smaller/druzy crystals of dioptase can be very light in color.
That said, a precise locality is probably impossible to state. Dioptase is relatively common and there are many localities worldwide, especially if the crystals are small as in this case. The largest crystals are found in the more famous African mines around Tsumeb and Shinkolobwe, as well as the type locality Altyn-Tyube. But given that these are such small crystals, in a way this almost excludes these localities as candidates. Of course, that is not to say that the specimen is less interesting or aesthetic, since an example from a rare locality can be highly coveted, especially for collectors of this species. (Fluorite, pyromorphite, and wulfenite are also examples of species that some collectors enjoy specializing in.)
18th Aug 2019 02:44 UTCTama Higuchi Manager
Also, excluding the African and Kazakhstani mines is helpful, I didn't consider how crystal size would factor into it! Looks like I need to do more research.
But as Mark said, figuring out the locality will be next to impossible. Now, I am going to hunt like mad for the missing label, but I guess it will likely remain a mystery.
18th Aug 2019 02:54 UTCJeff Weissman Expert
18th Aug 2019 02:57 UTCTama Higuchi Manager
18th Aug 2019 04:20 UTCMark Heintzelman 🌟 Expert
18th Aug 2019 04:34 UTCDana Slaughter 🌟 Expert
18th Aug 2019 07:03 UTCAlfredo Petrov Manager
18th Aug 2019 07:12 UTCCecil Cosse
Cecil
18th Aug 2019 07:28 UTCTama Higuchi Manager
18th Aug 2019 11:37 UTCPaul De Bondt Manager
13th Sep 2019 20:24 UTCTama Higuchi Manager
Mindat.org is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 25, 2024 12:09:02
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2024, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: April 25, 2024 12:09:02