Dioptase!

A selection of specimens from recent a recent find of diopase, made late last year.  Of particular note are the beautiful combinations with yellow mimetite, that display an especially pleasing color combination.  Please note, these are from the *Republic of* Congo, not the *Democratic* Republic of Congo.  They are two separate countries-- the latter is the larger one that used to be called Zaire and is most famous for its uranium and Copper Crescent minerals.  The Republic of Congo is the smaller nation bordering it to the west.... it is very irksome to me when I see dealers label things as The Congo without bothering to specify which one, especially when they are mixing minerals that are obviously from hundreds of miles apart in two separate countries.....  


Shortly after I obtained these pieces, I decided to go in person, and actually spent New Years there.  There will be interesting updates of other Congolese minerals coming soon!

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NDP00 Mottramite, Dioptase with Mimetite
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
18.4x 14.0x 8.0 cm
$5000

A spectacular large cabinet specimen of dioptase from recent finds at Ntola.  This piece has unusually large crystals for the locality, and a pleasant sprinkling of small yellow orbs of another mineral-- I am guessing a mixture of mimetite and mottramite.  

There are saw marks around the edges.  The piece could admittedly use more trimming,  though even as is I would say it is significant for the locality. 











NDP00A Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
18.0x 16.0x 9.0 cm
$3500

A large cabinet specimen of dioptase, with a display face richly covered with small, but bright green dioptase crystals.  Exceptionally rich. 

This was a bit hard to photograph, and for some reason the color looks a bit dull-- it is however, your standard crisp dioptase green.









NDP01 Dioptase with Mimetite
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
12.2x 7.3x 7.4 cm
$1600

A cabinet sized combination specimen of green dioptase with beautifully contrasting yellow mimetite.  The dioptase crystals are arranged in ball-shaped aggregates, which are clustered together over the mimetite coated matrix.  

A very beautiful piece from this interesting new find!  There are some scuffs, but the piece is exactly as shown.











NDP02 Dioptase with Mimetite
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
14.2x 7.4x 8.3 cm
$3600

A beautiful cabinet sized example of dioptase richly covering its matrix.  There have been a number of circular, radiating casts or pseudomorphs that have appeared on the market, no one is exactly sure what mineral the dioptase has replaced--I suspect it is plancheite.  Whatever the case, they have tended to be single pieces, generally off matrix--most were thumbnails.  

In fact, when those are unearthed, they are often thin botryoidal-looking crusts-- the crusts are broken off the host rock to reveal the attractive concave underside.  This piece is somewhat unusual because firstly, the round formations are on matrix, second there are quite a few of them, and third-- they have not had to be pried off their original matrix to be appreciated-- they are actually standing t 90 degrees to the matrix.

As with most of these, given the very rudimentary mining methods, there are some scuffs.  Nevertheless, it is a great piece from the find. 















NDP03 Dioptase with Mimetite
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
9.8x 7.2x 3.8 cm
$1300

A cabinet sized combination specimen of green dioptase with beautifully contrasting yellow mimetite.  The dioptase crystals are arranged in ball-shaped aggregates, which are clustered together over the mimetite coated matrix.   The visual balance and contrast on this one are exceptional. 


A very beautiful piece from this interesting new find!  








NDP04 Dioptase with Mimetite
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
6.1x 4.2x 2.2 cm
$285

A wonderful sized combination specimen of green dioptase with beautifully contrasting yellow mimetite.  The dioptase crystals are arranged in ball-shaped aggregates, which are clustered together over the mimetite coated matrix.  










NDP04A Dioptase with Mimetite
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
11.2x 8.1x 6.4 cm
$1380

A beautiful cabinet sized specimen of dioptase on matrix, with a light sprinkling of interspersed, yellow mimetite crystals.











NDP05 Dioptase with Mimetite
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
5.8x 3.3x 2.3 cm
$195

A cabinet sized combination specimen of green dioptase with beautifully contrasting yellow mimetite.  The dioptase crystals are arranged in ball-shaped aggregates, which are clustered together over the mimetite coated matrix.  









NDP06 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
8.5x 6.5x 4.3 cm
$395

A beautiful cabinet sized example of dioptase crystals on matrix, from recent finds at the Ntola Mine. 







NDP07 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
9.7x 7.4x 5.8 cm
$395

A beautiful cabinet sized example of dioptase crystals on matrix, from recent finds at the Ntola Mine.   As with many of these, given the rudimentary mining methods, there are some scuffs... but the piece is exactly as shown.








NDP08 Dioptase with Mimetite
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
6.5x 5.6x 3.9 cm
$265

A wonderful sized combination specimen of green dioptase with beautifully contrasting yellow mimetite.  The dioptase crystals are arranged in ball-shaped aggregates, which are clustered together over the mimetite coated matrix.   There is some stubborn dirt not he right side of the piece.

This one does a particularly good job of illustrating how the more famous radiating/ circular pseudomorphs are found-- a lot of them started off as a bubbly looking layer with a hollow space underneath.  In the case of those specimens, that layer is just broken off the matrix to reveal the sparkly underside. This piece has some of the attractive dioptase/ mimetite combination on the main face, but on the side also illustrates the bubbly, crust like habit of the material. 










NDP09 Dioptase with Mimetite
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
9.3x 8.0x 3.4 cm
$385

A nice example of yellow mimetite with interspersed green dioptase, from recent finds int he Republic of Congo.







NDP10 Dioptase with Mimetite
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
10.0x 5.9x 4.0 cm
$210

A nice cabinet sized sample of crisp green dioptase with beautifully contrasting yellow mimetite.  This one has some scuffing, so it is priced a bit cheaper-- still a great cabinet sized piece for the price.







NDP11 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
4.0x 3.6x 2.8 cm
$135

A nice example of dioptase on matrix, from recent finds at the Ntola Mine.  The dioptase on this piece is present as small crystals arranged into ball shaped aggregates.  Some contacting, as shown.









NDP12 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
10.0x 9.3x 6.2 cm
$685

A very rich example of crist green dioptase, from recent finds at he Ntola Mine. The dioptase on this piece is present mainly as small crystals,  many arranged into ball shaped aggregates.  Minor scuffing, as shown.  For the size and richness, I think this one is a particularly good price.









NDP13 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
10.6x 2.7x 2.9 cm
$175

A nice cabinet sized example of dioptase on matrix, from recent finds at the Ntola Mine. 







NDP14 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
6.1x 3.9x 3.0 cm
$165

A nice example of dioptase on matrix, from recent finds at the Ntola Mine. 







NDP15 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
5.2x 4.6x 3.7 cm
$165

A nice example of dioptase on matrix, from recent finds at the Ntola Mine.









NDP16 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
8.8x 7.0x 6.0 cm
$385

A nice cabinet sized example of crisp green dioptase from recent finds at the Ntola Mine. 







NDP17 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
6.2x 4.8x 2.8 cm
$185

A nice example of dioptase from recent finds at the Ntola Mine. 







NDP18 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
4.6x 3.4x 2.4 cm
$175

A nice miniature sized specimen, richly covered with dioptase crystals, from recent finds at the Ndola Mine. 







NDP19 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
3.1x 2.4x 2.1 cm
$95

A nice "toenail" sized sample of crisp green dioptase, from recent finds at the Ntola Mine. 







NDP20 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
5.0x 2.5x 1.6 cm
$135

A nice miniature size specimen of crisp green dioptase from recent find at the Ntola Mine.







NDP21 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
5.1x 5.0x 4.3 cm
$175

A nice example of dioptase from recent finds at the Ntola Mine.  Some scuffing, but exactly as shown. 







NDP22 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
8.0x 6.3x 5.7 cm
$200

A nice cabinet sized sample of dioptase form recent finds at the Ntola Mine.  A lot of good centrally positioned crystals, with some scuffing around the edges where the pocket was opened. Good for the price. 









NDP23 Dioptase with Mimetite
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
7.4x 5.0x 6.1 cm
$235

A nice example of crisp green dioptase with beautifully contrasting yellow mimetite, from recent finds at the Ntola Mine  Minor scuffing present. 







NDP24 Dioptase with Mimetite
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
8.3x 7.5x 5.8 cm
$195

A nice cabinet sized example of dioptase with minor yellow mimetite. There is damage, but still very beautiful and rathe impressive for the size/ price. 







NDP25 Dioptase
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
9.2x 6.1x 4.4 cm
$485

A nice cabinet sized example of dioptase with minor yellow mimetite. Sawn on back and side, but very god size and richness for the price. 







NDP26 Dioptase with Mimetite
Ntola Mine, Mindouli, Pool Dept., Republic of Congo
5.4x 3.3x 2.4 cm
$145

A nice example of crisp green dioptase with beautifully contrasting mimetite, from recent finds at the Ntola Mine.  There is a bit of damage (as shown) and the price takes this into account. 







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