Dioptase For Sale

Dioptase is a lustrous blue-green copper-based mineral mostly found in arid regions where it forms as a secondary mineral in copper deposit oxidation zones. This mineral commonly appears as small rhombohedral crystals, typically less than a few millimeters in size. It is quite popular with mineral collectors due to its vibrant emerald green color and gemmy qualities.

99 Items ($145 to $1,495)

Huge, Sparkling Dioptase Crystal Cluster - N'tola Mine, Congo #209711

Huge, 9.1" Sparkling Dioptase Crystal Cluster - N'tola Mine, Congo

$1,495

Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Congo #129549

3.4" Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Congo

$595

Sparkling Dioptase Crystals with Mimetite - N'tola Mine, Congo #209690

2.5" Sparkling Dioptase Crystals with Mimetite - N'tola Mine, Congo

$185

Sparkling Dioptase and Mimetite on Dolomite - N'tola Mine, Congo #209689

2.5" Sparkling Dioptase and Mimetite on Dolomite - N'tola Mine, Congo

$149

Sparkling Dioptase Crystals with Mimetite - N'tola Mine, Congo #209687

2.45" Sparkling Dioptase Crystals with Mimetite - N'tola Mine, Congo

$145

Sparkling Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Republic of the Congo #277840

2.0" Sparkling Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Republic of the Congo

$69

Lustrous Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Republic of the Congo #272932

1.5" Lustrous Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Republic of the Congo

SOLD

Exceptional Gemmy Dioptase Cluster - Namibia #44661

Exceptional 2.6" Gemmy Dioptase Cluster - Namibia

SOLD

Gemmy Dioptase Crystals on Dolomite - Ntola Mine, Congo #130501

2.15" Gemmy Dioptase Crystals on Dolomite - Ntola Mine, Congo

SOLD

Exceptional, , Gemmy Dioptase Cluster - Kazakhstan #34949

Exceptional, 2.78", Gemmy Dioptase Cluster - Kazakhstan

SOLD

Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster on Quartz - Sanda Mine, Congo #209338

4.3" Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster on Quartz - Sanda Mine, Congo

SOLD

Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Kimbedi, Congo #168640

1.7" Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Kimbedi, Congo

SOLD

Large, Gemmy Dioptase Crystals On Calcite - Kazakhstan #78851

2.3" Large, Gemmy Dioptase Crystals On Calcite - Kazakhstan

SOLD

Sparkling Dioptase Crystals On Mimetite - N'tola Mine, Congo #209707

3.9" Sparkling Dioptase Crystals On Mimetite - N'tola Mine, Congo

SOLD

Gemmy Dioptase and Mimetite on Dolomite - Ntola Mine, Congo #130500

3.1" Gemmy Dioptase and Mimetite on Dolomite - Ntola Mine, Congo

SOLD

Beautiful Dioptase Crystal Cluster on Plancheite - Sanda, Congo #302228

5.65" Beautiful Dioptase Crystal Cluster on Plancheite - Sanda, Congo

SOLD

Colorful Shattuckite and Chrysocolla Slab - Tantara Mine, Congo #281088

6.95" Colorful Shattuckite and Chrysocolla Slab - Tantara Mine, Congo

SOLD

Gemmy Dioptase Cluster on Dolomite - Ntola Mine, Congo #130498

1.9" Gemmy Dioptase Cluster on Dolomite - Ntola Mine, Congo

SOLD

Dark Green Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Congo #111562

3.4" Dark Green Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Congo

SOLD

Gemmy, Green Dioptase Crystals On Quartz - Namibia #78692

2.15" Gemmy, Green Dioptase Crystals On Quartz - Namibia

SOLD

Dioptase Specimen With Huge, Gemmy Crystals - Namibia #190196

1.7" Dioptase Specimen With Huge, Gemmy Crystals - Namibia

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Gorgeous, Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Namibia #129090

2.4" Gorgeous, Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Namibia

SOLD

Gemmy Dioptase Cluster (Large Crystals) - Namibia #44660

2.3" Gemmy Dioptase Cluster (Large Crystals) - Namibia

SOLD

Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Congo #129547

2.5" Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Congo

SOLD

Gemmy Dioptase Cluster on Calcite - Kazakhstan #44659

2.48" Gemmy Dioptase Cluster on Calcite - Kazakhstan

SOLD

3.6" Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster

SOLD

Pristine Dioptase Crystals on Quartz - Kimbedi, Congo #148471

2.2" Pristine Dioptase Crystals on Quartz - Kimbedi, Congo

SOLD

Gorgeous, Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Congo #129546

2.6" Gorgeous, Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster - Congo

SOLD

Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster on Plancheite - Sanda, Congo #302232

2.6" Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster on Plancheite - Sanda, Congo

SOLD

Dioptase Crystals In Shattackite - Congo #175957

1.7" Dioptase Crystals In Shattackite - Congo

SOLD

What Is Dioptase?

Dioptase is a secondary mineral of copper sulfide that most commonly forms as fragile, doubly terminated hexagonal crystals. This very distinct mineral will form in tightly packed clusters of very small crystals. A crystal over 1 centimeter in length is very rare and only found in a few localities. Although typically rhombohedral, crystals can take druzy, radiating, botryoidal, or grainy forms. The name is derived from Greek, and roughly translates to “to see through.” This refers to its translucent nature and the ability to see its cleavage planes within the crystal. The largest, highest quality crystals are often cut into gems, though they are rather fragile. Despite this, dioptase is very valuable due to its visual appeal and mimicry of emerald gemstones. Its color and shape has lent it the nicknames “Emerald Copper” and “Emerald Malachite.”

How Does Dioptase Form?

Dioptase requires very specific conditions to form and is therefore fairly uncommon. Because of the high acidity necessary for oxidation to occur, silica often won’t form unless in highly alkaline conditions. However, due to prolonged exposure to dry climates and the correct amount of carbonate as a buffer, silica will react with copper to form dioptase or chrysocolla.

Where Is Dioptase Found?

Anywhere there is a large-scale copper mine in a dry area, dioptase is sure to be present somehow! Cream-of-the-crop dioptase comes from Tsumeb, Namibia, where the largest stand-alone crystals are found. Namibia also produces some of the finest dioptase-malachite and dioptase-shattuckite associations. The first high grade dioptase was extracted from Kazakhstan, but Namibia has easily superseded that location in both size and quality of crystals with recent finds. The Congo and Argentina also produce a lot of dioptase, though not in the same exceptional quality as other mines. Arizona is the only state in the U.S. known to produce dioptase, but not gem-quality specimens. These mines only produce druzy and encrusting varieties of dioptase.

Common Associations

As one might expect, dioptase is found in association with other copper and silicate-based minerals. The most common include chrysocolla, malachite, calcite, and quartz. Shattuckite is a known pseudomorph of dioptase, typically found in Arizona, Congo, and Namibia.

Featured Photos

Gemmy Dioptase Crystal Cluster - N'tola Mine, Congo #175945

What Is Dioptase?

How Does Dioptase Form?

Where Is Dioptase Found?

Common Associations

Featured Photos