Chrome Diopside - Geeky name for a beautiful gemstone

If you think opals and larimar are lovely stones, you're really gonna love Chrome Diopside. Yeah, ugly, clinical sounding name I admit, but these gemstones are what every emerald would dream of looking like. 

 

Talk about green with envy....sorry, I know that was corny, but this stone is really so very lovely.  And chrome diopside, at least most of the gem grade rough comes from Siberia.  Yeah, the place where the Russian exiles were sent, well that place is home to a wonderful gemstone too.

Trouble is that the temperatures are so ridiculously cold in Siberia that mining can only be done for three months of the year. Chrome diopside is mined in the wilds of Eastern Siberia in a region called Inagli in the Sakha Republic (a.k.a. Yakutia). The Yakutia territory is located in Eastern Russia and is considered the coldest place in Siberia as well as in the northern hemisphere. The Yakut people (who call themselves Sakha) are descended from Turkic, Mongol, and native Siberian tribes. Yakutia is one of the pivotal territories of the Russian Federation.

Winter lasts for nine months, and it's too cold to mine diopside in the winter—which makes it difficult to keep production levels steady throughout the year.  During the Siberian winter, reindeer sledding is a much more common pastime than mining. We've all heard the punch line, "send him to Siberia" but I never realized how severe a sentence that would be. It's so cold in this region - how cold is it? - that the rough is only mined during three months of the year. 

Chrome diopside is the birthstone for the month of March and is associated with the zodiac sign of Pisces.  According to AJS Gems, the name Diopside is derived from the Greek word 'di' meaning two, and 'opsis', meaning vision which makes sense when you realize that Diopside is believed to be a creative stone, increasing creative visualization and helping to manifest desired goals. It has also been said that it can improve the wearer's intellect, particularly with regards to mathematical and analytical abilities. In addition to this, Diopside is believed to alleviate aggression and stubbornness, and is said to be related to love, commitment, and the inner heart. Gee, wonder if I can get an outfit studded with this stuff....I need all the help I can get trying to get rid of my stubborn streak...ah, but I digress. 

The intense green color of this gem comes from chromium in the chemical make up, CaMg (Fe,Cr)Si2O6.  Its chrystal structure is body-centered cubic. 

Because chrome diopside has a Mohs hardness of 5.5, similar to opal or tanzanite, it should be placed in a setting that offers protection.  If you want to ensure as many years of enjoyment for this gemstone, take it off when you're playing sports or doing any other strenuous activities.  

As for traveling to the source of this lovely gemstone, well let's just say that I don't even like the temperatures in Michigan when they approach zero. Temperatures that can drop as low as 70 degrees below zero, well that's a chilly hell I have NO intention of experiencing first hand. To be honest, I got chill just looking at the photographs of the people in their beautiful fluffy fur coats and those amazing hats....fashion statement or survival?

Happy trails fellow rock hounds...
Pam