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Dioptase is an intense emerald-green to bluish-green copper cyclosilicate mineral. It is transparent to translucent. Its luster is vitreous to sub-adamantine. Its formula is CuSiO3·H2O (also reported as: CuSiO2(OH)2). It has a hardness of 5, the same as tooth enamel. It specific gravity is 3.28 - 3.35, and it has two perfect and one very good cleavage directions. Additionally, dioptase is very fragile and specimens must be handled with great care. It is a trigonal mineral, forming 6-sided crystals that are terminated by rhombohedra. Photograph of a dioptase specimen from Altyn Tübe, Kazakhstan taken by Dlloyd. ...
Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes. ...
A chemical formula (also called molecular formula) is a concise way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound. ...
General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic pinkish red Standard atomic weight 63. ...
In chemistry, a silicate is a compound containing an anion in which one or more central silicon atoms are surrounded by electronegative ligands. ...
In mineralogy, shape and size give rise to descriptive terms applied to the typical appearance, or habit of crystals. ...
A crystal system is a category of space groups, which characterize symmetry of structures in three dimensions with translational symmetry in three directions, having a discrete symmetry group. ...
In crystallography, the rhombohedral (or trigonal) crystal system is one of the 7 lattice point groups. ...
Cleavage, in mineralogy, is the tendency of crystalline materials to split along definite planes, creating smooth surfaces, of which there are several named types: Basal cleavage: cleavage parallel to the base of a crystal, or to the plane of the lateral axes. ...
For fractures in geologic formations, see Rock fracture. ...
Mohs scale of mineral hardness characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer. ...
Lustre (American English: luster) is a description of the way light interacts with the surface of a crystal, rock or mineral. ...
The refractive index (or index of refraction) of a medium is a measure for how much the speed of light (or other waves such as sound waves) is reduced inside the medium. ...
The streak (also called powder color) of a mineral is the color of the powder produced when it is dragged across a unweathered surface. ...
Relative density (also known as specific gravity) is a measure of the density of a material. ...
An emerald color is a shade of green that is particularly light and bright, with a faint bluish cast. ...
General Name, Symbol, Number copper, Cu, 29 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 4, d Appearance metallic pinkish red Standard atomic weight 63. ...
The silicate minerals make up the largest and most important class of rock-forming minerals. ...
Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes. ...
In optics, transparency is the property of being transparent, or allowing light to pass. ...
For the file system called Lustre, see Lustre (file system) Lustre (American English: luster) is a description of the way light interacts with the surface of a crystal, rock or mineral. ...
Vitreous refers to a material in a glassy state. ...
Adamantine is a mineral, often referred to as adamantine spar. ...
In materials science, hardness is the characteristic of a solid material expressing its resistance to permanent deformation. ...
Relative density (also known as specific gravity) is a measure of the density of a material. ...
Cleavage, in mineralogy, is the tendency of crystalline materials to split along definite planes, creating smooth surfaces, of which there are several named types: Basal cleavage: cleavage parallel to the base of a crystal, or to the plane of the lateral axes. ...
In crystallography, the rhombohedral (or trigonal) crystal system is one of the 7 lattice point groups. ...
Quartz crystal Copper(II) sulfate and iodine crystal Synthetic bismuth crystal Insulin crystals Gallium, a metal that easily forms large single crystals A huge monocrystal of potassium dihydrogen phosphate grown from solution by Saint-Gobain for the megajoule laser of CEA. In chemistry and mineralogy, a crystal is a solid...
History
Late in the 18th century, copper miners in Kazakhstan thought they found an emerald deposit of their dreams. They found fantastic cavities in quartz veins in a limestone, filled with thousands of lustrous emerald-green transparent crystals. The crystals were dispatched to Moscow, Russia for analysis. However the mineral's inferior hardness of 5 compared with emerald's greater hardness of 8 easily distinguished it. Later Fr. Rene Just Hauy (the famed French mineralogist) in 1797 determined that the enigmatic Kazakhstani mineral was new to science and named it dioptase (Greek, dia, "through" and optima, "vision"), alluding to the mineral's two cleavage directions that are visible inside unbroken crystals. For other uses, see Emerald (disambiguation). ...
Quartz is one of the most common minerals in the Earths continental crust. ...
Limey shale overlaid by limestone. ...
Location Position of Moscow in Europe Government Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Geographical characteristics Area - City 1,081 km² Population - City (2007) - Density 10,469,000 9684. ...
René Just Haüy (February 28, 1743 – June 3, 1822), French mineralogist, commonly styled the Abbé Haüy, from being an honorary canon of Notre Dame, was born at St Just, in the départment of Oise. ...
Mineralogy is an earth science that involves the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical (including optical) properties of minerals. ...
1797 (MDCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ...
Occurrence Dioptase is a very rare mineral found mostly in desert regions were it forms as a secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of copper sulfide mineral deposits. However, the process of its formation is not simple, the oxidation of copper sulfides should be insufficient to crystallize dioptase as silica is normally minutely soluble in water except at highly alkaline pH. The oxidation of sulfides will generate highly acidic fluids rich in sulfuric acid that should suppress silica solubility. However, in dry climates and with enough time, especially in areas of a mineral deposit where acids are buffered by carbonate, minute quantities of silica may react with dissolved copper forming dioptase and chrysocolla. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixel Image in higher resolution (3008 × 2000 pixel, file size: 3. ...
Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixel Image in higher resolution (3008 × 2000 pixel, file size: 3. ...
Doubly refracting Calcite from Iceberg claim, Dixon, New Mexico. ...
Tsumeb open cast pit, buildings and railway about 1931 Tsumeb is the capital city of the Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. ...
This article is about arid terrain. ...
The most fundamental reactions in chemistry are the redox processes. ...
Formally, sulfide is the dianion, S2−, which exists in strongly alkaline aqueous solutions formed from H2S or alkali metal salts such as Li2S, Na2S, and K2S. Sulfide is exceptionally basic and, with a pKa > 14, it does not exist in appreciable concentrations even in highly alkaline water. ...
The most fundamental reactions in chemistry are the redox processes. ...
The chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is the oxide of silicon, chemical formula SiO2. ...
The common (Arrhenius) definition of a base is a chemical compound that either donates hydroxide ions or absorbs hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. ...
The correct title of this article is . ...
For alternative meanings see acid (disambiguation). ...
Sulfuric acid, H2SO4, is a strong mineral acid. ...
A buffering agent adjusts the pH of a solution. ...
In organic chemistry, a carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid. ...
Chrysocolla from Nevada, USA. Chrysocolla (hydrated copper silicate) is a mineral, CuSiO3·nH2O. It is of secondary origin and forms in the oxidation zones of copper ore bodies. ...
The Altyn Tube mine still provides handsome specimens, a brownish quartzite host distinguishes its specimens from other localities. The finest specimens of all were found at the now-closed Tsumeb Mine in Tsumeb, Namibia. Tsumeb dioptase is wonderfully lustrous and transparent, with its crystal often perched on an attractive snow white carbonate matrix. Dioptase is also found in the deserts of the southwestern USA. A notable occurrence is the Mammoth-Saint Anthony Mine in Tiger, Arizona where small crystals that make fine micromount specimens are found. In addition, many small, pale-green colored crystals of Dioptase have come from the Christmas Mine near Hayden, Arizona. Finally, an interesting occurrence is the Malpaso Quarry in Argentina. Here tiny bluish-green dioptase is found on and in quartz. It appears at this occurrence, dioptase is primary and has crystallized with quartz, native copper and malachite. Tsumeb open cast pit, buildings and railway about 1931 Tsumeb is the capital city of the Oshikoto region in northern Namibia. ...
Official language(s) English Capital Phoenix Largest city Phoenix Area Ranked 6th - Total 113,998 sq mi (295,254 km²) - Width 310 miles (500 km) - Length 400 miles (645 km) - % water 0. ...
Micromount is term used by mineral collectors and rockhounds to describe mineral specimens that are best appreciated using optical aid, commonly a binocular microscope. ...
Hayden is a town in Gila County, Arizona. ...
Quartz is one of the most common minerals in the Earths continental crust. ...
Malachite from the Democratic Republic of Congo Malachite is a carbonate mineral, copper(II) carbonate hydroxide Cu2CO3(OH)2. ...
 Green crystals of the secondary copper mineral dioptase Image File history File links Size of this preview: 522 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (771 × 885 pixel, file size: 163 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Source: Chris Ralph. ...
Image File history File links Size of this preview: 522 × 599 pixel Image in higher resolution (771 × 885 pixel, file size: 163 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Source: Chris Ralph. ...
Use Dioptase is popular with mineral collectors and it is occasionally cut into small emerald-like gems. Dioptase and chrysocolla are the only relatively common copper silicate minerals. A rare dioptase gem should never be exposed to ultrasonic cleaning or the fragile gem will shatter. A selection of gemstone pebbles made by tumbling rough rock with abrasive grit, in a rotating drum. ...
Chrysocolla from Nevada, USA. Chrysocolla (hydrated copper silicate) is a mineral, CuSiO3·nH2O. It is of secondary origin and forms in the oxidation zones of copper ore bodies. ...
Ultrasound is sound with a frequency greater than the upper limit of human hearing, approximately 20 kilohertz. ...
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