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| Name Origin |
From a Greek word meaning appearing double-di ("double") and opsis ("view") |
|---|---|
| Chemical Formula | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Color | colorless, white, gray, pale green, dark green, blackish green, brown, yellowish to reddish brown |
| Hardness | 5.5-6.5 on Mohs Scale |
| Crystal System | Monoclinic. Crystals often well formed, prismatic, stubby, also massive |
| Cleavage |
Prefect 1 direction |
| Specific Gravity (SG) |
usually 3.29 |
| Luster |
Vitreous |
| Fracture | Uneven to conchoidal, brittle |
Note: Pure diopside is usually white or green (due to the presence of chromium impurities), however it has several other color varieties including baiklite, alalite and malacolite (pale green) and violane. The violet-blue color of violane is due to presence of manganese impurities. Violane is frequently used to make beads and inlay. It should be noted that deep violet or blue color diopsides are very rare.
Diopside is also found in the form of cat's eye. Cat's eye occurs due to presence of rutile inclusions which reflect the light in such a way to create this effect. Furthermore, some diopsides have rutile needle inclusions aligned such a way to produce four-pointed star.
Faceted diopside is not extremely rare, but large (over 15 carats) clean stones are. Colors are usually dark, so bright and attractive gem is most desirable.
Diopside is found in (main sources): Austria, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, and South Africa
Diopside is also found in the form of cat's eye. Cat's eye occurs due to presence of rutile inclusions which reflect the light in such a way to create this effect. Furthermore, some diopsides have rutile needle inclusions aligned such a way to produce four-pointed star.
Faceted diopside is not extremely rare, but large (over 15 carats) clean stones are. Colors are usually dark, so bright and attractive gem is most desirable.
Diopside is found in (main sources): Austria, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Germany, India, Italy, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, and South Africa
Diopside-pyrite Laurentian Quebec Canada
Diopside crystals
Diopside Crystal Laurentian Quebec Canada
Calcite Diopside Laurentian Quebec Canada
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Diopside Marble Lanark Ontario Canada
Orthoclase-Diopside Laurentian Quebec Canada
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