$B!!(B

$BF)51@P!J(BDiopside)


$B!!MM!9$JF)51@P!!(B0.11ct$B!!(B-16.8ct
$B!!(B


$B2=3XAH@.(B
(Composition)
$B7k>=7O(B
(Crystal system)
$B7k>=7A(B
(Crystal form)
$B%b!<%99EEY(B
(Hardness)
$BHf=E(B
(Density)
$B6~@^N((B
(Refractive Index)
$BI{6~@^(B
(Birefringence)
CaMg(Si2O6) $BC1

=7O(B
(Nonoclinic)

6 - 7 3.2-6 1.66-72 0.026

$B!!!!!!!!(B$B9[J*L>$NM3Mh(B $B!J(BAbout name and occurence)
$B!!%@%$%*%W%5%$%I$NL>$O(B1806$BG/(B,$B%U%i%s%9$N9[J*3X$G$9!#(B
$B%.%j%7%"8l$N(B $B!I(BDis=$BFs$D!"$H(BOpsis$B!a;k$k!I$KM3Mh$9$kL>A0$G$9!#!IFs$D8+$k!I$H$O$I$&$$$&$3$H$J$N$+9M$($F$_$^$7$?!#(B
$B!!;qNA$G$OI{6~@^CM$,9b$/7k>=$rDL$7$F2hA|$,Fs=E$K8+$($k$?$a$H$"$j$^$9!#(B
$B3N$+$KF)51@P$NI{6~@^$O(B0.026$B$HB?$/$N9[J*$NCf$G$O9b$$J}$G$9!#$7$+$7\m]4@P$N(B0.036$B!"NPN|@P!J%(%T%I!<%H!K$N(B0.039$B!"%@%H!<@P$N(B0.044$B!"%Y%K%H@P$N(B0.047$B!"%8%k%3%s$N(B0.059$B!"%9%U%'!<%s$N(B0.134$B!"J}2r@P$N(B0.172$BEy!"$b$C$HBg$-$J2A$r<($99[J*$,$"$j$^$9!#(B
 $B$7$+$7J}2r@P$r=|$$$F$O$=$l$i$N9[J*$K$O7k>=$rDL$7$F2hA|$,8+$($k$h$&$JF)L@$J7k>=$OHs>o$K5)$G$9!#(B
$B0lJ}F)51@P$OEv;~$G$b%"%k%W%9;3L.$KF)L@$J7k>=$,K-IY$KH/8+$5$l$^$7$?!#(B
$B!!62$i$/%"%&%$$O%@%$%*%W%5%$%I$NC1

=7O$NCl>u$NF)L@$J7k>=$rK\$N>e$K$G$bCV$$$?$N$G$7$g$&!#(B
$B$=$7$F7k>=$rDL$7$FJ8;z$d@~$,Fs=E$K8+$($k$3$H$K5$$E$$$?$N$G$O$J$$$+$H;W$$$^$9!#(B
$B!!%"%U%,%K%9%?%s;:$NF)L@$J7k>=$rDL$7$F@~$,Fs=E$K8+$($k $BJ}2r@P$[$I$K$OI{6~@^$N2A$,Bg$-$/$J$$$?$a$K0l$D$N7k>=LL$G2hA|$,Fs$D8+$($k$o$1$G$O$J$/!"Cl>u$NFs$D$NLL$rDL$C$?@~$,Fs=E$K8+$($^$9!#(B

"Diopside" derives it's name from Greek "dis=dual and Opsis=see" named by French mineralogist J.B. Haüy in 1806.
Certainly, doubling might be visible through transparent diopside crystal because of high birefringence, which is, however, not too high as other common minerals, such as Peridote(0.036), Epidote(0.039), Datolite(0.044), Benitoite(0.047), Zircon(0.059), Sphene(0.134) and Calcite(0.172).
$B!!(BWhy did Haüy name Diopside with relatively intermediate birefringence ?
Except Calcite, other common minerals with high birefringence are rarely transparent to show visible doubling effect, while transparent Diopside is relatively common from Alps. Pbobably Haüy might have put a Dioside crystal on a book to recognize the clear doubling of printed character.
$B!!OBL>$ODA$7$/H~$7$$L>$,$D$$$F$$$^$9!#(B
$BB$4d9[J*$H$7$F$O5)$J$3$H$G$9$,!"F)L@$JH~$7$$7k>=$,F|K\$G$b:N$l$k$?$a$G$7$g$&!#(B
$BF)51@P$O%+%k%7%&%`@.J,$KIY$`BgM}@P$N$h$&$J@\?(JQ@.4d$N%9%+%k%sCOBS!"$^$?51@PJRKc4d!"HCdz4d!"\m]44d!"51NP4dEy$N$h$&$J1v4p@-!"D61v4p@-$NH>?<@.4d$d?<@.4dCf!"%Z%0%^%?%$%H$dG.?e9[>2!"99$Kp(@PCf$H9-HO$KH/8+$5$l$^$9!#(B
Dioside is recovered together with Augite and Hedenbergite, the most important ferromagnesian mineral of igneous rocks, abundant in basic and ultrabasic rocks, characteristic of gabbros and baslts. Dioside especially occurs in medium-and high-grade metamorphosed dolomitic limestones and skarns.

$B!!(B $BF)51@P$O51@PB0$KB0$7!"B>$N51@PB0$N9[J*$H$N8GMOBN$H$7$F;:=P$9$k$3$H$,$"$j$^$9!#(B
$BNc$($PCfJF$G$OfG?i!J9E6L!K$K(B10$B!sDxEYF)51@P@.J,$,:.F~$7$F$$$k>l9g$,$"$j!"(BMayaite$B$H8F$P$l$^$9!#(B
 $BF)51@P$,E4J,$r(B20$B!s0J>e4^$`$H0ENP!"G;3l?'$N3%E451@P!J(BHedenbergite$B!K$H$J$j$^$9!#!!(B
$B%^%s%,%s$d0!1t$NJQ@.9[>2$K;:$9$kF)51@P$N%+%k%7%&%`$H%^%0%M%7%&%`@.J,$NBgH>$,%^%s%,%s$KCV49$5$l$?F)51@P$NJQ=$r;:$7$^$7$?!#(B
$B!!%$%?%j%"%"%k%W%9!"%U%!%C%57LC+FC;:$NF)51@P$O%U%!%C%551@P$H8F$P$l$^$9!#(B
$B$3$l$OJQu7k>=$,6bJFE|$N$h$&$KJ|u$K=89g$7$?FC0[$J;:>u$K$h$kL?L>$H;W$o$l$^$9!#(B
$B!!F)51@P$NF)L@$JH~$7$$7k>=$O@$3&3FCO$N;33Y@-$NG.?e9[L.$KB?$/H/8+$5$l$^$9!#(B
$B$7$+$71"$j$rBS$S$?C8NP?'$N%k!<%9$OJu@P$H$7$F$OL%NO$,$"$j$^$;$s$+$i!"$b$C$Q$i%3%l%/%?!
$B!!!!(BDioside is a member of pyroxen group and is often found as solid solution with other pyroxen ; ex. In Central America, 10% of Diopside is contained in Jade and is called Mayaite. 20% of ferric rich diopside is dark green-brown Hedenbergite. When most of diopside' calcium and magnesium elements are replaced by manganese is Johannsenite, which 25cm long crystal was onece found at Frankline mine, New Jersey, U.S.A.. In Fassa valley, Italy, fine prismatic crystals, radiating like confetti candy form is called Fassaite. Although transparent, gemmy diopside crystal is abundant in hydrothermal vein, due to dark green color, it is rerely facetted for gemstone.

$B!!(B$BJu@P

$B:GBg$N%/%m%`F)51@P!!(B25.33ct$B!!(B22.1x16.0mm 3.32ct 10.6x8.0mm 2.08ct 9.2x7.0mm 0.62ct 6.1x5.9mm
Inagli, Yakutia, Russia

1.12ct
8.3x6.1mm
1.32ct
8.4x6.2mm
0.90ct 0.47ct 2.54ct 11.6x8.0mm 1.0ct 6.4x4.4mm
0.32ct 0.59ct
Inagli, Yakutia, Russia Urçuai, Brazil

10.59ct 16.2x13.4mm 5.45ct 5.44ct 14.0x8.7mm 0.74ct 6.8x3.8mm 0.50ct 6.0x4.0mm
Mogok, Burma Pakistan ? Cranberry  Lake, Ontario, Canada

$B%t%!%J%8%&%`H/?'$NF)51@P(B (Vanadium Diopside) 16.8ct$B!!(B
15.7x14.6mm
14.5ct
13.8x11.2mm
1.18ct 0.11ct Ø3.52x2.09mm
Lelatema Hills, Tanzania Southern India
$B!!Ju@PMQES$H$7$F%+%C%H$5$l$k$N$O:GBg$G#2!sDxEY$N%/%m%`$r4^$`%/%m%`!&%@%$%*%W%5%$%I$G2L.$KH/8+$5$l$^$9!#(B
 $BJu@P/$7;:=P$9$k$@$1$NBgJQ5)$G!"$7$?$,$C$F$H$F$b9b2A$J!"Ju@P<}=82H?b^7$NJu@P$G$7$?!#!!(B
$B!!$H$3$m$,(B198$B#7G/$K%m%7%"$GBg$-$J9[L.$,H/8+$5$l$k$H!"(B1990$BG/Be=iF,$+$i%"%a%j%+$G9b2A$J%D%!%t%)%i%$%H!&%,!<%M%C%H$d%/%m%`!&%H%k%^%j%s$NBeMQIJ$H$7$F!"%F%l%S!&%7%g%C%T%s%0MQ$KNLHN$5$l$k$h$&$K$J$j$^$7$?!#(B
$B!!%/%m%`!&%@%$%*%W%5%$%I$N?'$O$d$dfJ$j$rBS$S$?L%NOE*$JG;$$NP$G!"Ju>~IJ$K$9$k$H:G>e5i$N%(%a%i%k%I$N$h$&$K8+$($^$9!#(B
 $BBgNL$K:N$l$k$?$a$K%D%!%\%i%$%H$HHf$Y$l$PI4J,$N0l!"%/%m%`!&%H%k%^%j%s$HHf$Y$F$b==J,$N0lDx$N%+%i%C%HEv$?$j!"(B20$B!A(B50$B%I%kDxEY$NCMCJ$G0l5$$KBg=0E*$JJu@P$H$J$j$^$7$?!#(B
$B!!$?$@$7!"%b!<%99EEY$,$d$dDc$$$3$H!"Q|3+$7$d$9$/8&KaCf$K7g$1$d$9$$$N$G86@P$+$i$NJbN1$^$j$,#6!s$H6K$a$FDc$$$?$a$K%k!<%9$NBg$-$5$OJ?6Q$7$F#1%+%i%C%HA08e$H>.$5$$$N$,FqE@$G$9!#(B
 10$B%+%i%C%H$rD6$($k$h$&$JBg$-$J%k!<%9$OLGB?$K$"$j$^$;$s!#5)$K$"$C$?$H$7$F$bM>$j$K$b?'$,0E$/L%NOE*$G$O$"$j$^$;$s!#(B
$B!!6aG/%V%i%8%k$N%&%k%9%"%$$+$i$b@P1QCf$K%/%m%`%@%$%*%W%5%$%I$N8+;v$J7k>=$,:N$l$k$h$&$K$J$C$?$?$a!":#8e$OF)L@EY$N9b$$Bg$-$J%k!<%9$,%+%C%H$5$l$k2DG=@-$,$"$j$^$9!#(B
$B!!$^$?!"Fn%$%s%I$+$i:N$l$k9u$$%@%$%*%W%5%$%I$O%+%\%7%g%s$KKa$/$H==;z$N%9%?!<$r8+$;$^$9!#(B
$B%P%V%k;~Be$NF|K\$G$O%V%i%C%/!&%9%?! $B!!%V%i%C%/!&%9%?!

$B!!(BOnly emerald green chorme diopside, which contains maximum 2% of chrome, found in cupper and chrome containning metamorphic zone has been facetted as gem stone. But in the past, a few gem chrome diopside crystal was mined in Kenya and in Finnland, therefore it was extremely rare and expensive, limited only for gem collecters.
$B!!(BIn 1987$B!"(Ba huge deposit was found in Siberia, Russia then a mass sales on TV-shopping started in the U.S.A. as moderate priced replacements of expensive Tsavorite and Chorome Tourmaline.
Chorome Diopside is a little dark shaded green and looks like the highest quality emerald when setted in the jewelry.
$B!!(BThanks to abundant supply, today price has dropped to affordable level of US$20$B!A(B50/carrat , which is one hundredth of Tsavorite garnet and one tenth of Chrome Tourmaline. Disadvantages of chrome diopside as gemstone are ; low hardness, most of faceted stone does not exceed one carat, because of yield rate as low as only 6%, due to the perfect cleavage. A loose over 10 carrat is quite rare and often too dark.. However a new find of big transparent gem crystal from Urçuai, Brazil is expected to supply bigger gemstones.
Southern India is an abundant producer of low cost black star diopside, which is often offered as black star sapphire. Be careful !
$BL>A0$NM3Mh(B
$BFs=E$K8+$($k@~(B
Afghanistan
Chrome Diopside 35mm
Urçuai, Brasil
Chrome$B!!(BDiopside 41mm
Outokumpu, Finland
Chrome$B!!(BDiopside$B!!(B16mm
Tormiq,$B!!(BBaltistan
Pakistan
Diopside 7cm
Tyrol, Austria
Chrome Diopside rough 48mm
Inagli, Yakutia, Russia

$B!!(B

Diopside, 24mm Kotel
Khybar Pass, Pakistan
Diopside 10mm
Nordmarken, Sweden
$B%^%s%,%sF)51@P(B(Mangano Diopside) 110mm
Costi, Val Malenco, Italia
Diopside 4mm
Pizzo Tremogge
Val Malenco$B!"(B Italia

Alalite$B!!(B1cm
Val d'Ala Italia
$BF)51@P7k>=!!(B63ct 26x26x15mm
Gemmy diopside crystal
Merelani$B!!(BHills,Tanzania
$B%t%!%J%8%&%`F)51@P(B
(Vqanadium Diopside)
23x7x4mm

Lelatama Hills, Tanzania
$BhA@D51@P!J(BViolane$B!K(B
$B!!(B2.5x2x1.5cm
Val d'Aosta Italia$B!!!!(B
$BF)51@P!!(B(Diopside)
China
$BF)51@P$N?'(B
$B!!(B$BF)51@P$K$O?'9g$$$K$h$jMM!9$JL>A0$,$"$j$^$9(B (Diopised has various color variations) $B!!!((B
$B%"%i%i%$%H(B(Alalite,Alaite$B!K(B $B!!!'(B $B!!%$%?%j%"$N%"%i7LC+(B(Val d'Ala$B!K;:$KBeI=$5$l$k$[$\=c?h$J@.J,$NL5?'F)L@(B
$B!!(BPure, Tranparent specimen, reported from Val d'Ala, Italy.
$B%^%i%3%i%$%H(B(Malacolite$B!K(B $B!!!'(B $B!!0lHLE*$JF)51@P$N?'9g$$$GFs2A$NE4%$%*%s$K$h$jC82+NP?'$rBS$S$F$$$k(B
Common Dioside with pale greenish-yellow, colored by di-valent ferric ion.
$B%/%m%`%@%$%*%W%5%$%I(B
$B!J(BChorome diopside$B!K!!(B
$B!!!'(B $B!!:GBg$G(B2$B!s$N%/%m%`$r4^$_$d$dfJ$j$rBS$S$?%(%a%i%k%I%0%j!<%s$r<($9!#(B
$B!!(BDark emerald-green specimen, colored by maximum 2% of chrome (and or Vanadium) ion.
$B%^%s%,%sF)51@P(B
(Mangano Diopside)
$B!!!'(B $B!!HyNL$N%^%s%,%s$r4^$_C8;g?'$r<($9!#(B
(Mauve colored specimen colored by manganese.
$BhA@D51@P!J(BViolane$B!K(B $B!!!'(B $B!!(B$B%T%(%b%s%FCOJ}!"%"%*%9%?7LC+(B,$B%^%l%s%37LC+F~$j8}$N%-%(%5!J(BChiesa$B!K$ND.(B
$B$Nl$d%7%C%=!<%M7LC+Ey(B,$B $B!!%$%?%j%"8l$G$O%t%#%*%i!<%M$H8F$P$l!"2t>u$N$b$N$rGv$/@ZCG$78&Ka$7$FAu>~MQES$K8E$/$+$i;H$o$l$F$$$?!#(B
$B!!(BVioletish spcimen found at northern Italy(Val d'Aosta and Val Malenco).
$B!!(B Thin sliced plate has been used for ornamental purpose.

$B!!(B

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