Collection: Diopside

Diopside is a mineral of the pyroxene family, highly valued in both geology and jewelry.

🔷 Diopside identity card

• Chemical formula : CaMgSi₂O₆

• Crystal system : Monoclinic

• Hardness (Mohs scale) : 5.5 to 6.5

• Colors : Green (often), but also white, brown, yellow, purple or colorless

• Luster : Vitreous

• Cleavage : Perfect to good, typical of pyroxenes

• Density : Approximately 3.2 to 3.5

🌍 Origin and training

Diopside is mainly formed:

• in calcium-rich metamorphic rocks (such as skarns and marbles),

• in certain ultrabasic or basic igneous rocks (such as peridotite),

• and in meteorites (certain types of chondrites).

💎 Use in jewelry

Chrome diopside (also called emerald green diopside or Russian diopside ) is a variety highly prized in jewelry for its intense green color , due to the presence of chromium . It is often used as an alternative to emerald, although less hard.

• It is usually cut into facets or cabochons.

• Quite fragile for everyday use (because of its cleavage), it is mainly used in jewelry that does not undergo frequent shocks (earrings, pendants).

🔬 Other applications

• In petrology , diopside is an important mineral for understanding the genesis of rocks.

• It can also be used as an indicator mineral in diamond prospecting (as it can be associated with kimberlites).

📍 Notable deposits

• Russia (Ural, Siberia) – very beautiful green crystals (chrome diopside)

• Pakistan , India , South Africa

• Italy (especially in Val Malenco)

• United States , Canada

✨ Anecdote

The name "diopside" comes from the Greek "dis" (two) and "opsis" (sight) , referring to the way it reflects light differently along the crystal axis.