Dioptase!

A selection of specimens from recent a recent find of diopase, made late last year.  Of particular note are the beautiful combinations with yellow mimetite, that display an especially pleasing color combination.  Please note, these are from the *Republic of* Congo, not the *Democratic* Republic of Congo.  They are two separate countries-- the latter is the larger one that used to be called Zaire and is most famous for its uranium and Copper Crescent minerals.  The Republic of Congo is the smaller nation bordering it to the west.... it is very irksome to me when I see dealers label things as The Congo without bothering to specify which one, especially when they are mixing minerals that are obviously from hundreds of miles apart in two separate countries.....