kristin
08-04-2006, 10:23 AM
Diopside
Chrome Diopside is and attractive and fairly inexpensive gem, but few people know about it. Chrome Diopside is a transparent, medium-dark, vivid green colored gem. The only known commercial source for chrome Diopside is eastern Siberia, in Russia. Chrome Diopside. Chrome Diopside gets its color from the same chemical elements as emerald does, which gives it a similar look, except chrome Diopside has a much higher clarity than emerald. Diopside’s hardness ranges from 5.5 to 6 on the mohs scale but it’s toughness is poor, because of its cleavage directions so Diopside is not the best stone for jewelry that gets everyday wear. Diopside sometimes occurs in a star variety and a cat’s-eye variety.
Chrome Diopside is and attractive and fairly inexpensive gem, but few people know about it. Chrome Diopside is a transparent, medium-dark, vivid green colored gem. The only known commercial source for chrome Diopside is eastern Siberia, in Russia. Chrome Diopside. Chrome Diopside gets its color from the same chemical elements as emerald does, which gives it a similar look, except chrome Diopside has a much higher clarity than emerald. Diopside’s hardness ranges from 5.5 to 6 on the mohs scale but it’s toughness is poor, because of its cleavage directions so Diopside is not the best stone for jewelry that gets everyday wear. Diopside sometimes occurs in a star variety and a cat’s-eye variety.