Judging quality
Judge chrome diopside on color saturation without over-darkening; stones above two carats tend to look almost black. Look for transparency and clean prism faces.
Pyroxene
Diopside
Chrome diopside from Siberia is a deep forest green rivalling emerald; star diopside from India shows a four-rayed black star.
Care
Moderately soft with two cleavage directions. Warm soapy water; no ultrasonic.
History & lore
Siberian chrome diopside is mined in a very short seasonal window in the permafrost of Yakutia.
Cultural history, recorded as tradition rather than as medical or scientific claim.
Common questions about Diopside
- What is Diopside?
- Chrome diopside from Siberia is a deep forest green rivalling emerald; star diopside from India shows a four-rayed black star.
- How hard is Diopside and what is it made of?
- Diopside is a Pyroxene-family mineral with the composition MgCaSi2O6. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system and rates 5.5-6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. It occurs in green, black.
- Where does Diopside come from?
- Notable localities for Diopside include Russia (Siberia), Italy, Pakistan, Madagascar.
- How do you tell good Diopside from filler?
- Judge chrome diopside on color saturation without over-darkening; stones above two carats tend to look almost black. Look for transparency and clean prism faces.
- How do you care for Diopside?
- Moderately soft with two cleavage directions. Warm soapy water; no ultrasonic.
See it in person
Photographs only go so far
Both rooms are open six days a week, and there is always someone happy to pull pieces out of the case so you can compare them under the light.