DIOPSIDE

DIOPSIDE	Perfect cleavage in two directions
Major Sources	India & Russia
Colors Found	Blue, brown, colorless, green, gray, purple & white
Family	Pyroxene: CaMgSi2O6
Hardness	5 to 6
Refractive Index	1.66–1.73; Biaxial (+)
Specific Gravity	3.22–3.38
Crystal System	Monoclinic
Enhancements	Natural

Diopside was named in 1800 from the Greek word dis meaning double and opsis meaning vision, in reference to the pleochroism (different colors 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. It 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. It was previously named schefferite, white schefferite and zinc-schefferite.

The mineral diopside is the magnesium-rich member of the clinopyroxene group.

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

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

Varieties of diopside include chrome diopside (a chromium-rich diopside known for its deep green color), violan (a rare blue variety found in Italy), cat’s eye diopside (green with the effect due to inclusions of needles), malacolite (a white colored 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, Burma, India, 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 color and can display grey or brown tones. India has the largest deposits of cat’s eye or star diopside. The color of African diopside tends to be a more yellowish color similar to peridot.

Chrome diopside

Chrome diopside has a beautiful rich green color, similar to that of fine emeralds or the rarest tsavorite garnets. Colored by chromium, 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 chrome diopside is relatively unknown is that it has only recently become available in sizable commercial quantities. Chrome diopside displays strong birefringence and has a vitreous luster. It is mostly available in small sizes, with large carat weights hard to find.

Chrome diopside is mostly mined in Yakutia, Siberia (Russia). 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. Chrome 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 chrome diopside more available than ever before.

Star diopside

Star diopside is also known as black star diopside because of its blackish color. 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. This gem is mainly mined in India and is generally a black or blackish green color.

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, but is also found in Burma.

Violan

Violan is light blue to purple in color due to the presence of large amounts of manganese. Mined mainly in Italy, violan is generally used for beads and inlay—faceted gems are always tiny.