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.
