Dioptase

specimen number:
8311476

location:
Tsumeb Mine, Otjikoto, Namibia

description:
Lustrous green crystals of dioptase measuring to 1.2 cm in size on matrix. This is in good condition.

The Tsumeb Mine, located in the Oshikoto Region of northern Namibia, is widely considered the most significant mineral locality in the world due to its incredible diversity of over 300 mineral species. Geologically, it is a polymetallic pipe-like deposit that penetrates through a thick sequence of Neoproterozoic carbonate rocks within the Otavi Group. The ore body formed as a result of hydrothermal fluids filling a massive karst-related structure, creating deep oxidation zones that produced world-famous specimens of dioptase, azurite, and cerussite. Historically, mining and quarrying at the site were known to the local San and Damara people for centuries before formal European involvement began in the late 19th century. The Tsumeb Corporation Limited (TCL) oversaw the most productive years of the mine's modern history, which saw continuous large-scale industrial operation from 1907 until its eventual closure in 1996 due to flooding and economic factors. As of 2026, while the underground workings remain closed, the site is a legendary landmark in mineralogy, and the nearby smelter continues to process ores from other regional sources.

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