Epidote

specimen number:
2262181

location:
Diakon, Kayes, Mali

description:
A lustrous loose double terminated crystal cluster of deep green epidote. This is in terrific condition. The specimen comes with a previous label from the collection of Bill Dameron. Note that in the 1990s Mr. Dameron served as the U.S. Ambassdor to Mali.

The Diakon area, situated in the Kayes Region of western Mali, is a premier locality for high-quality epidote crystals, often found in association with prehnite. Geologically, the deposit is hosted within the Kayes Inlier, where Proterozoic basaltic and doleritic rocks underwent low-grade metamorphism and hydrothermal alteration. This environment favored the growth of lustrous, dark green to nearly black epidote crystals, which frequently occur as sharp prisms or fan-like aggregates within volcanic cavities. Historically, while the local population has long been aware of these mineral occurrences, the site gained significant international recognition in the late 1990s and early 2000s as Mali emerged as a major producer of specimen-grade minerals. Mining and quarrying activities at Diakon are almost entirely artisanal and small-scale, with local miners excavating pits and tunnels by hand to recover crystals for the global collector market.

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