Dioptase with Quartz

specimen number:
9506321

location:
Reneville, Pool, Republic of Congo

description:

A spectacular specimen showing brilliant green Lustrous dioptase crystal measuring to 1.5 cm in length across this crystallized quartz matrix. This is in great condition. Outstanding for the species from this famous old locality.

The mines around Reneville, located in the Pool Department of the Republic of the Congo within the Niari Basin, is historically renowned for its rich polymetallic mineral deposits. Geologically, the area consists of sedimentary rock formations where intensive supergene oxidation processes have yielded exceptional secondary copper mineralization, most notably world-class crystal specimens of dioptase and malachite. Historically, the deposits of this region were worked by local African communities for centuries before European contact, serving as a vital medium for regional trade. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, French colonial prospectors initiated formal industrial extraction, targeting the high-grade copper carbonates that characterize the district.

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