Dioptase, Quartz

A handsome cabinet-sized specimen from the Sanda area of the Pool Department, Republic of the Congo, featuring an open vug exposed on the surface of the host rock. The cavity is lined with a sparkling druse of lustrous quartz crystals, many of which contain vivid emerald-green inclusions of dioptase. These inclusions create flashes of rich green colour throughout the specimen, looks exceptional when under lights. Some associated mimetite or wulfenite can be seen in the host rock as well.

The Sanda area has emerged as one of the more important modern mineral discoveries in the Republic of the Congo, producing a variety of high-quality quartz and dioptase specimens since material first began appearing on the collector market in the early 2000s. The deposits occur within the copper-rich mineralized zones of the region, where secondary copper minerals such as dioptase formed during the oxidation of primary ore bodies. While the area is best known for sharp gem-quality dioptase crystals, specimens displaying quartz richly included with dioptase are far less common and offer a different but equally attractive expression of the locality's mineralization.

This specimen beautifully captures the association between quartz and dioptase for which the district has become known, combining excellent sparkle, vibrant colour, and a naturally sculptural presentation. A fine representative example from one of Africa's most significant modern mineral localities.