Diopside
Image: Robert M. Lavinsky (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameDiopside
Chemical FormulaCaMgSi₂O₆
Mohs Hardness5.5
Crystal Systemmonoclinic
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagegood on {110} at 87 and 93 degrees
Fractureuneven
Specific Gravity3.22
Colorsgreen, lime-green, dark green, white, gray, brown, black
Transparencytransparent
Type LocalityMerelani Hills (Mererani), Lelatema Mts, Arusha Region, Tanzania
Mineral Groupsilicates
Usesjewelry, collector, industrial
Associated Mineralscalcite, dolomite, tremolite, actinolite, garnet, spinel, tanzanite
Rarityuncommon
Description
This specimen features a large, intensely lime-green Diopside crystal, exhibiting good transparency and a well-formed prismatic habit. The crystal is a vibrant green, characteristic of some gem-quality diopside.
Geological Context
Diopside is a common mineral found in a variety of metamorphic rocks, particularly in contact metamorphic zones (skarns) and marbles, as well as in some mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks. It forms under high-temperature and moderate-pressure conditions.
