Chromdiopside: description, varieties, properties and use

Among the many gemstones in high and steadily growing demand, chrome diopside occupies its rather prominent place. One of the main advantages of the mineral in question is its impressive resemblance to the 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 their description should be given special attention.

At first, chrome diopside was classified by specialists as a rock-forming mineral, and therefore was not considered a valuable fossil. It was considered a gemstone only in the late 1980s, which was the result of many years of work by geologist Anatoly Korchagin, the discoverer of the Inaglinsky deposit located in Yakutia. Thanks to the latter, chrome diopside received 3 more names - sibirite, inaglite and Siberian emerald.

Currently, the mineral in question is classified as gemstones 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 USA);
• Europe (the most famous deposits are in Finland);
• South America (Brazil).

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

Special attention should be paid to the physical properties of the described mineral, which belongs to the silicate group. 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 that of lapis lazuli, hematite and opal);
• density - from 3.25 to 3.55 g / cm³;
• ability to fluoresce under the influence of UV rays.

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

• rich green;
• pale pistachio;
• grassy;
• brownish green;
• yellowish;
• dark green (close to black).

The list of the main components that make up the Siberian emerald looks like this:

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

In addition, the mineral in question may contain trace amounts of vanadium, manganese, iron, titanium and some other constituents.

In addition to its spectacular appearance, the described mineral boasts other, no less remarkable features, and primarily magical. Such, in the opinion of 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 apply chrome diopside to his forehead to get rid of them.
• Improving resistance to stress... By choosing the Siberian emerald as a talisman, anyone will be able to avoid most conflict situations, and transfer the rest with maximum peace of mind.

Chromdiopside is of no less importance in lithotherapy. Specialists in stone treatment note that it has a number of beneficial properties, the main of which are the following.

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

Given the fragility of chrome diopside, its processing is fraught with certain difficulties. One awkward movement of the cutter can lead to damage to the product, and therefore only experienced specialists can work with 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 rich collectors, but also ordinary connoisseurs of beauty and style can get it. In most cases, buyers will prefer the emerald stepped chrome diopside cut recommended by most jewelers.

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

• Gold earrings. Jewelry with untreated chrome diopside looks especially original, which is optimal for bright and extraordinary girls and women.
• Rings... Such products can be an excellent decoration for any image - both female and male.
• Beads. The stones used in these types of 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.

Decorations framed with blackened silver deserve special mention. Such products, made with the use of chrome diopside inserts, will become an effective addition to any outfit - both everyday and festive.

Like the vast majority of other gemstones, the Siberian emerald is not suitable for every owner. Astrologers note that chrome diopside has the best effect on the representatives of the three signs of the zodiac - Taurus, Libra and Pisces.

• The gem in question has a particularly positive effect on Taurus. The most typical manifestations of this influence are financial well-being and accelerated career growth.
• The importance of the Siberian emerald for Libra can hardly be overestimated. To the representatives of this sign, he brings confidence, which they lack so much and allows them to reduce dependence on the opinions of others.
• Pisces can also get rid of doubts with the help of chrome diopside. He also gives them a charge of positive emotions, helping to cope with painful depression.

If you single out the signs that the Yakut gem is contraindicated, then these are Capricorns 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. Chromdiopside will not harm the representatives of the remaining signs of the zodiac, but they should not expect a positive effect (in addition to the aesthetic) from wearing it.

As for the professions with which the presented stone is "friends" to the greatest extent, 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 rarely counterfeited. In most cases, dishonest craftsmen refuse this venture due to the relatively low cost of natural Siberian emeralds. But on the market there is an impressive number of products made with 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 imperfections indicates its naturalness.

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

• correct storage of the product involves its mandatory wrapping with a soft cloth and placing it 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 carefully wiped with a napkin);
• the use of aggressive chemicals for cleaning the gem in question is unacceptable;
• given the relative fragility of the Siberian emerald, it should be handled with care, avoiding strong mechanical stress.

See the following video for the features of chrome diopside.