Chromdiopside: description, varieties, properties and uses

Among the many gems that are in high and steadily growing demand, chrome diopside takes its own, quite prominent place. One of the main advantages of the mineral in question is its impressive resemblance to emerald, which most of its varieties can boast of. The healing and magical properties of this stone are no less remarkable: they justify its regular use, and therefore it is worth paying special attention to their description.

At first, chrome diopside was classified by experts as a rock-forming mineral, and therefore was not considered as a valuable mineral. They began to consider it a jewelry stone only from the end of the 1980s, which was the result of many years of work by geologist Anatoly Korchagin, the discoverer of the Inaglinskoye deposit, located in Yakutia. Thanks to the latter, chrome diopside has received 3 more names - siberite, inaglite and Siberian emerald.

Currently, the mineral in question is classified as jewelry stones of the II category of value. In addition to Siberia, it is mined in many other regions of the planet, the list of which is as follows:

• East Asia (Japan and China);
• Australia;
• South Asia (primarily Myanmar);
• Africa (South Africa, Madagascar and Tanzania);
• North America (Canada and the USA);
• Europe (the most famous deposits in Finland);
• South America (Brazil).

Despite the fairly wide distribution of the presented mineral, its reserves are relatively small.Another negative point is the low quality of the majority of mined stones, which significantly reduces the percentage of raw materials used in jewelry. As for the richest cluster of Siberian emeralds, such is the Inaglinskoe deposit mentioned above, named after the river of the same name. Its shores are famous for placers of chromdiopsides, among which there are a significant number of valuable specimens.

Particular attention should be paid to the physical properties of the described mineral belonging to the group of silicates. One of the most remarkable features of the Siberian emerald is the ability to change color depending on the angle of inclination, due to the layered arrangement of its components.

Other features of the Siberian emerald are listed below:

• pronounced glass luster;
• transparency or translucency;
• relative fragility (hardness on the Mohs scale is 5.5-6.0, which is comparable to lapis lazuli, hematite and opal);
• density - from 3.25 to 3.55 g / cm³;
• ability to fluorescence under the influence of UV rays.

Depending on the level of chromium and some other impurities determined by the specifics of the deposit, the mineral may have the following color options:

• saturated green;
• pale pistachio;
• herbaceous;
• brownish green;
• yellowish;
• dark green (close to black).

The list of the main components that make up the Siberian emerald is as follows:

• compounds of calcium and magnesium (18-25% each);
• silicon oxide (up to 55%);
• impurities (primarily chromium).

In addition, the mineral in question may contain a small amount of vanadium, manganese, iron, titanium, and some other components.

In addition to the spectacular appearance, the described mineral can boast of other, no less remarkable features and, first of all, magical ones. Those, according to most esotericists, are its following properties.

• The ability to change life for the better. If a person seeks to improve his being, it makes sense for him to become the owner of the gem in question. Supporters of mystical teachings explain this by the belief that this gem fell from the tree of life in order to help people who chose it.
• Effective fight against nightmares. If a person suffers from bad dreams, he should attach chrome diopside to his forehead to get rid of them.
• Increased Stress Resistance. By choosing the Siberian emerald as a talisman, anyone can avoid most conflict situations, and the remaining ones can be transferred with maximum calm.

Chromdiopside is no less important in lithotherapy. Specialists in stone treatment note that it has a number of useful properties, the main of which include the following.

• Normalization of the nervous system. First of all, the Siberian emerald stabilizes the emotional background and effectively fights depressive conditions.
• Getting rid of insomnia. According to lithotherapists, to solve this problem, daily application of a stone to the forehead for 15 minutes is enough.
• Effective counteraction to the problems that concern the organs of the cardiovascular system. Supporters of lithotherapy claim that regular wearing of products decorated with chrome diopside helps to normalize blood pressure and helps get rid of angina pectoris, arrhythmia and most of the accompanying pathologies.

Given the fragility of chrome diopside, its processing is associated with certain difficulties. One awkward movement of the cutter can lead to damage to the product, and therefore only experienced specialists can work with the Siberian emerald. As for the maximum mass of stones used in jewelry, it is 5 carats (in most cases, this value does not exceed 2 carats).

Due to its excellent appearance, chrome diopside is increasingly found on the shelves of jewelry stores. Taking into account the relatively low cost of the stone in question, not only wealthy collectors can acquire it, but also ordinary connoisseurs of beauty and style. In most cases, buyers prefer the emerald stepped cut of chrome diopside, recommended by most jewelry masters.

Practice shows that the most spectacular Siberian emerald looks in the following products.

• Gold earrings. Jewelry with unprocessed chrome diopsides, which are optimally suitable for bright and extraordinary girls and women, looks especially original.
• Rings. Such products can be an excellent decoration of any image - both female and male.
• Beads. The stones used in such jewelry can be processed and unprocessed. Both options look very attractive, and the choice of a specific solution is determined by the preferences of the owner of the product.

Special mention deserves jewelry framed in blackened silver. Such products, made using chrome diopside inserts, will be a spectacular addition to any outfit - both casual and festive.

Like the vast majority of other precious stones, the Siberian emerald is not suitable for every owner. Astrologers note that in the best way chromediopside affects representatives of the three signs of the zodiac - Taurus, Libra and Pisces.

• Especially positively considered gem affects Taurus. The most characteristic manifestations of this influence are financial well-being and accelerated career growth.
• One can hardly overestimate the value of the Siberian emerald for Libra. Representatives of this sign, he brings confidence, which they are so lacking and can reduce dependence on the opinions of others.
• Pisces can get rid of doubts with the help of chrome diopside. He also gives them a charge of positive emotions, helping to cope with painfully depressed conditions.

If you select the signs that the Yakut gem is contraindicated, then such are Capricorn and Aries. The impact of the Siberian emerald on such people leads to an increase in their irritability and aggressiveness, which can cause conflicts with relatives, acquaintances, and work colleagues. Representatives of the remaining signs of the zodiac chrome diopside will not harm, but they should not expect a positive effect (in addition to aesthetic) from wearing it.

As for the professions with which the presented stone is “friends” to the greatest extent, then these include lawyers, teachers and mystics. In addition, astrologers strongly recommend it to people involved in the health sector (including veterinarians).

Experience shows that chrome diopside is extremely rare. In most cases, dishonest craftsmen refuse this venture due to the relatively low cost of natural Siberian emerald. But on the market there is an impressive number of products made using synthetic stones, created in laboratory conditions using the hydrothermal method of crystal growth. Such gems are derivatives of crushed natural beryl.

To accurately determine the authenticity of chrome diopside, it is enough to carefully examine its surface under a magnifying glass. The absence of noticeable defects indicates the synthetic origin of the stone, while the presence of small cracks and other defects indicates its naturalness.

In order for the Siberian emerald to please its owner as long as possible, it must be properly looked after, following a few simple guidelines:

• proper storage of the product involves its mandatory wrapping with a soft cloth and placement separately from other jewelry;
• From time to time, chrome diopside must be washed in a soapy solution, rinsing it with plenty of water (at the end, the stone is gently wiped with a cloth);
• the use of aggressive chemicals to clean the gem in question is unacceptable;
• given the relative fragility of the Siberian emerald, it should be handled carefully, avoiding strong mechanical stresses.

About the features of chrome diopside see in the next video.