Dioptase is a copper cyclosilicate mineral whose color ranges from intense emerald green to bluish green. It is not a common mineral and is found mostly in desert regions where it forms as a secondary mineral of copper sulfide deposits. Towards the end of the 18th century, some copper miners from the Altyn-Tyube mine in Kazakhstan accidentally stumbled upon this mineral thinking they had found an emerald deposit. They sent the crystals to Moscow, Russia, to have them analyzed and discovered that they were not emeralds. Subsequently René Just Haüy, famous French mineralogist, in 1797 established that the enigmatic mineral found at Altyn-Tyube was a new mineral not yet classified and called it dioptase from the Greek dia, "through", and optos, "visible", alluding to two directions of cleavage of the mineral that are visible within intact crystals. It is popular with mineral collectors and is sometimes cut into small gems. It can also be ground and used as a paint pigment.
Dimensions
Stones size (cm): 8 -12 mm
Weight (g): 50
Property
Chemical Formula: CuSiO3 * H2O
Mohs scale: 5
Relative density: 3.28 / 3.5
Crystalline System: Trigonal
