Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2006-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
dioptase

Chemical Group:    silicate

Chemical Formula:    H₂CuSiO₄

Color:  emerald-green     

Hardness:   5       Specific Gravity:  3.28 to 3.35                 

Fracture:  conchoidal to uneven

Cleavage: present

Crystal Forms: Tri-rhombohedral
      prismatic crystals, crystalline aggregates, massive

Mineral Associations:  occurs with copper deposits

Identifying Characteristics:

Uses: a rare mineral-mostly as mineral specimens

Occurrences:  Clifton, Arizona and Africa 

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- low          when inhaled- high

Additional Information: