Dioptase with Malachite

47 x 46 x 21 mm overall

This colorful and rare Dioptase specimen from the Ray Mine consists of sparkly, lustrous, emerald-green Dioptase crystals to 5 mm, richly filling a seam in contrasting matrix coated with Chrysocolla in shades of green and blue. What makes this specimen particularly unique for this find are the presence of lustrous, dark-green, slightly rounded Malachite crystals to 5 mm, within the Dioptase vein. This is one of a small batch of Dioptase specimens collected in May 1992 by Pat, who was a shift boss at the Ray Mine. I acquired the entire lot a few days later. There were only 3 or 4 of these Malachite associations found. Incomplete crystal terminations occur only at the margin of the seam, as expected. This is a chance to own a very fine combination of minerals rarely seen at the Ray Mine in Arizona.