Chrome diopside
Variety CaMgSi2O6
Also called Russian diopside
About it
Deep green diopside coloured by chromium, usually cut small because larger stones look too dark. Most comes from Yakutia in eastern Siberia; softer than emerald, so better in earrings than rings.
- Type
- Variety
- Group
- Diopside variety (pyroxene)
- Formula
- CaMgSi2O6
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 5.5–6.5
- Specific gravity
- 3.22–3.4
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy)
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- bright green, deep green
- Transparency
- transparent
- Cleavage and fracture
- good prismatic in two directions at about 87°; uneven fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.