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DIOPSIDE

Diopside was named in 1800 from the Greek word “dis” meaning double and “opsis” meaning vision, in reference to the pleochroism (different colours displayed when viewed from different angles) found in its prismatic form.

Legends and lore

Diopside is also called the “crying gemstone”, because it is believed by crystal healers to heal trauma by bringing forth cleansing tears.

Diopside is assumed to bring creativity to the wearer and is said to be related to love and commitment. Crystal healers believe that, when worn close to the chest (such as in a pendant), Diopside can benefit the heart, lungs and circulation.

Just the facts

Diopside is a calcium magnesium silicate found in metamorphosed impure limestone, meteorites and igneous basalts. Diopside has been previously named Schefferite, White Schefferite and Zinc-Schefferite.

Diopside is the magnesium-rich member of the “monoclinic-pyroxene series” that occurs when ions (and magnesium) freely substitute each other.

Diopside crystals have a perfect cleavage in two directions, are often twinned and are short and columnar, but with an uneven fracture. Mineralogists easily recognise Diopside in the field by its crystals, its colour, its fracture, its cleavage and its white or white-green streak.

Diopside is typically white, blue, purple, brown, green, colourless and grey with a glassy lustre. The less common shades are yellowish brown and greenish brown.

Varieties of Diopside include “Russian Diopside” (a chromium-rich Diopside known for its deep green colour), “Violan” (a rare blue variety found in Italy), “Cat’s Eye Diopside” (green with the effect due to inclusions of rutile needles), “Malacolite” (a white coloured variety), “Salaite” (an iron variety), “Dekalbite” (an iron-free variety) and “Star Diopside” (a star with four rays).

Gem quality Diopside is mined in Siberia, Italy, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Madagascar, South Africa and Pakistan. Uzbekistan, located between Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, is becoming an important locality for a variety of Russian Diopside called Tashmarine. This variety has a slightly lower chromium content than the Siberian material, a less saturated colour and can display grey or brown tones. India has the largest deposits of Cat’s Eye or Star Diopside. The colour of African Diopside tends to be a more yellowish colour similar to Peridot.

Russian Diopside

Russian Diopside has a beautiful rich green colour, similar to that of fine Emeralds or the rarest Tsavorite Garnets. Coloured by chromium, Russian Diopside is also known as Chrome Diopside and Imperial Diopside.

While there is little historical information regarding this rare gem, some claim it is beneficial for health, relationships, spirituality and financial success.

One major reason Russian Diopside is relatively unknown is that it has only recently become available in sizable commercial quantities. Interestingly, a company recently trademarked the name “Vertelite” for Russian Diopside. The name was created from “verte”, the Latin word for green and “lite”, the Latin word for tone. Russian Diopside is mostly mined in Yakutia, Siberia. Yakutia territory is located in the extreme north of Asia and is considered the coldest place in the northern hemisphere. Mining is limited due to cold winters lasting for nine months; hence this gem is seasonal and it has been difficult to maintain a steady supply. Interestingly, Yakutia is also the source of 99% of all Russian Diamonds. Russian Diopside is a Diamond mine indicator mineral and is sometimes found as an inclusion inside Diamonds. The liberalization of the economy of the former Soviet Union has made Russian Diopside more available than ever before. Russian Diopside displays strong birefringence and has a vitreous lustre. It is mostly available in small sizes, with large carat weights hard to find.

Star Diopside

Star Diopside is also known as “Black Star Diopside” because of its blackish colour. Asterism, or the star effect, is a reflection that appears as two or more intersecting bands of light across the surface of a gem. Star Diopside has four rays, two of which are straight, while the other two are not at right angles to the first pair. Star Diopside is mainly mined in India and is generally a black or blackish green colour.

Cat’s Eye Diopside

A green variety of Diopside, chatoyancy or the cat’s eye effect is a reflection that appears as a single bright band of light across the surface of a gemstone. Cat’s Eye Diopside is mainly mined in India.

Violan

Violan is light blue to purple in colour due to the presence of large amounts of manganese. Violan is mined mainly in Italy.