Diopside
Species
Uncommon · CaMgSi₂O₆
Calcium magnesium pyroxene of metamorphosed dolomitic rocks, skarns and some mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks. The chrome diopside variety is coloured vivid green by chromium. Black star diopside shows a four-rayed star from oriented needle inclusions.
Identity
- Formula
- CaMgSi₂O₆
- Chemical class
- Silicate
- Mineral group
- Aegirine, Enstatite, Hiddenite, Jade, Jadeite, Kunzite
- Also known as
- Chrome diopside (green gem variety), Star diopside (black variety)
Crystallography
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Habits
- Prismatic, Massive, Granular
- Fracture
- uneven to conchoidal
Physical properties
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 3.27 g/cm³
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Colors
- green, dark green, black, colorless, white, yellow
- Streak
- white
- Transparency
- Transparent, Translucent
Geology
- Origins
- Metamorphic, Igneous
- Host rocks
- Volcanic rock, Marble
- Associated minerals
- Calcite, Grossular, Tremolite, Vesuvianite, Wollastonite
- Found in
- Kimberlite, Lapis Lazuli, Kimberlite pipe, Skarn
- Geography
- Russia, Canada, Italy, India, Pakistan
Classification
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Gem quality
- Yes
Arcane properties
- Affinity
- Earth, Life
- Effects
- Healing, Elemental earth
- Planar origin
- Material Plane
Sources
- M. Pasero and others, IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification, The New IMA List of Minerals, updated September 2026. International Mineralogical Association (CNMNC), 2026.
- J. W. Anthony, R. A. Bideaux, K. W. Bladh, M. C. Nichols, Diopside. Mineral Data Publishing, Handbook of Mineralogy, 2001.
- Structures Behind the Spectacle: A Review of Optical Effects in Phenomenal Gemstones and Their Underlying Nanotextures. Gemological Institute of America, Gems & Gemology (Summer 2025), 2025.
- Diopside: Mineral information, data and localities. mindat.org.
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