Chrome diopside has several origins, but most of the finest material, and the only commercially viable deposit, is in the Republic of Sakha in Siberia, Russia. As you can imagine, production of this Siberian treasure is sporadic due to extreme winters that last more than eight months. The vivid greens of chrome diopside are a welcome alternative to rare and pricey emerald or tsavorite garnet, but has yet to gain mainstream recognition due to its limited availability. Minor sources of chrome diopside include Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, Italy, Madagascar, South Africa and the United States.
| Common Name | Chrome Diopside |
| Species | Diopside |
| Transparency | Transparent - Opaque |
| Dispersion | Strength: Moderate Fire Value: 0.02 |
| Refractive Index |
1.675-1.701 Tolerance:(+0.029/-0.010) |
| Birefringence | 0.024-0.03 |
| Optic Character | Biaxial |
| Optic Sign | Positive |
| Polariscope Reaction | Doubly Refractive (DR) |
| Fluorescence |
SWUV: Inert LWUV: Green |
| Pleochroism | Dichroic, weak to strong light and dark green |
| Hardness | 5.5-6.5 |
| Specific Gravity | 3.220-3.400 Range:0.11/-0.07 Typical:3.290 |
| Toughness | Poor |
| Inclusions | Black needle-like magnetite inclusions that might be magnetic, metallic like inclusions and liquid inclusions. |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Fracture | Conchoidal, Uneven |
| Cleavage | Good, in two directions |
| Chemical Name | calcium magnesium silicate |
| Chemical Formula | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Crystal System | Monoclinic |
| Chemistry Classification | Silicate |
Green Tanzania, United Republic Of; Romania; Unknown; China; Finland; Russian Federation (the); Brazil; Madagascar; Kenya; Thailand; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the)
You will fall in love with the eye-catching green of chrome diopside. This stone is pleochroic and changes color when viewed from different angles. Its color is natural, which gives it a strong appeal to those who seek untreated stones. It's also refractive, which means that when well cut, chrome diopside is quite brilliant. And it's occasionally seen with cat's-eye chatoyancy. This beautiful stone was discovered in Siberia. The part of Siberia that produces this gem is so teeth-chattering cold that miners can dig down to it only when the temperature warms up enough to thaw the frozen earth that locks it in.
Although chrome diopside wasn't a common gemstone before the 1980s, it wasn't unheard of. Some people believed that it fell from the Tree of Life. Others believed this stone led to the practice of burying loved ones with a chrome diopside, to make certain that they had an opportunity to move on to a new cycle of life. Still other folklore suggests that the stone brings tranquility and peace. For that reason, some cultures recommend that a chrome diopside be affixed to the forehead at night - in the belief that it would bring sweet dreams. Some say that the green of this stone connects one directly to the earth and helps make a direct connection to earth's energy.
Showcasing 200 gemstones in over 1,000 pages and accompanied by more than 2,000 photos, The Sisk Gemology Reference is a must-have in every collector’s library. Each comprehensive, three-volume set features state-of-the-art photography, detailed illustrations, and scientifically precise descriptions to create an entrancing experience for gemstone amateurs and afficionados alike.
This page was created on June 27, 2014.
This page was last edited on October 24, 2019.
