Mineralpedia Details for Dioptase
Dioptase
Named after the Greek words dia mesou, which means “through,” and optasia, for “vision,” in reference to the ability of the viewer to look through the mineral and see the internal cleavage directions. Found in oxidixed copper deposits, Dioptase is a somewhat uncommon mineral that can be found in localities in Kazakhstan, Romania, the United States, Argentina, Chile, the Congo Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, and many other min or localities. Dioptase is pyroelectric and will generate a charge in response to temperature changes.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/dioptase.pdf
- Formula
- CuSiO3·H2O
- Crystal System
- Trigonal
- Crystal Habit
- Massive, Cryptocrystalline, Crystalline - Coarse
- Cleavage
- Good, None, None
- Luster
- Vitreous (Glassy)
- Color
- dark blue green, emerald green, turquoise
- Streak
- green
- Class
- Trigonal - Rhombohedral
- Fracture
- Conchoidal
- Hardness
- 5
- WebMineral
- View Dioptase
- Mindat
- View Dioptase
Dioptase from Harquahala mine, La Paz Co., Arizona, United States
The center group is the darker green Malachite which is 5mm across. The glassy green, prismatic crystals are the Dioptase which covers the rest of the face.
Dioptase from Tsumeb mine, Tsumeb, Namibia
Preferential growth of glassy green micro Dioptase crystals on white Calcite rhombs to 1cm.
Dioptase from Christmas mine, Gila Co., Arizona, United States
Fibrous crystals of Dioptase to 0.4mm with Kinoite.
Dioptase from Superior, Pinal Co., Arizona, United States
Glassy green crystals of Dioptase with four tiny wulfenite crystals.
