Dioptase

A striking miniature specimen featuring sharp, lustrous trigonal prismatic crystals of dioptase measuring up to 2.6 cm in length. The crystals display the vivid emerald-green colour that has made dioptase one of the most beloved secondary copper minerals among collectors. The crystals seem to glow when backlit, revealing remarkable internal brilliance. The piece is in excellent condition, nearly a floater. One crystal tip shows a bit of a contact point, but not chipped. And there's some rough crystallization on the reverse with only a tiny point of attachment where the specimen was separated from the pocket.

This specimen originates from the famous N'tola Mine in the Pool Department of the Republic of the Congo, a now-defunct locality that produced some of the finest crystallized dioptase specimens seen on the market since the early 2000s. Good display-quality dioptase is only found at a handful of localities worldwide, and free-standing crystal groups of this calibre are especially desirable.