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Inorganic Colors from Russia and Asia

Natural Mineral Pigments


Dioptase [fine]

 

Dioptase is a copper silicate mineral found in the upper oxidized portions of copper ore deposits along with malachite. Our bright green dioptase is from copper mines in the Altyn-tyube, Kazakhstan. Available in three grades: fine, medium and coarse.

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 days

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Item No.

Pigment

Price

Qty

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420:100010

Dioptase [fine] [10 g jar] (.35 oz.)

$18.00

420:100050

Dioptase [fine] [50 g jar] (1.8 oz.)

$72.00

420:100100

Dioptase [fine] [100 g jar] (3.5 oz.)

$84.00

Dioptase [medium]

 

Dioptase is a copper silicate mineral found in the upper oxidized portions of copper ore deposits. Our emerald-green dioptase is from Altyn-tyube, Kazakhstan, and is available as a medium grade with a deep bluish green masstone.

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 days

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Item No.

Pigment

Price

Qty

Add

420:110010

Dioptase [coarse] [10 g jar] (.35 oz.)

$12.00

420:110050

Dioptase [coarse] [50 g jar] (1.8 oz.)

$48.00

420:110100

Dioptase [medium] [100 g jar] (3.5 oz.)

$84.00


Pigment Information: Dioptase [fine]

Current Names: Spanish: dioptas; Italian: dioptas Color: Green-Blue Colour Index: Not listed ASTM Lightfastness: Not tested Density: 3.3 Hardness: 5 Chemical Formula: CuSiO2(OH)2

Dioptase is a copper silicate mineral found in many parts of the world in the upper oxidized portions of copper ore deposits along with malachite. We buy our dioptase from copper mines in Altyn-tyube, 50 km east of Karaganda, Kirghiz Steppe, Kazakhstan. Dioptase is a bluer green than malachite and varies in masstone color from strong bluish green to vivid yellow green.
History of Use: Dioptase has been found as a pigment on ancient lime plaster statutes found in a Neolithic site in Jordan. In modern history, as a pigment dioptase has not been in wide spread use more than 10 years. It is a beautiful emerald green, and is especially good in mixtures. Dioptase can add brilliant highlights to glauconite. Use in its pure state where bright luscious colors are desired.
Grades: Available in three grades or fineness of grinds; fine, medium and coarse, which produce corresponding light, medium and dark tones of green when used in aqueous medium.
Permanence and Compatibility: It is stable in mixtures with other pigments, and its color is best appreciated when applied with other greens such as glauconite. No data has been published on the permanence and compatibility of dioptase.
Oil Absorption and Grinding: No data has been published on the oil absorption properties of dioptase. Grinding the mineral dioptase produces pigments that exhibits lighter and less saturated hues than coarser grades.
Toxicity: Dioptase is moderately toxic and care should be used in handling the dry powder pigment as well as the pigment dispersed in medium.

Read cautions about handling pigments

Customer Reviews

As a glaze over other pigments ...the results are exciting, December 5, 2001
Reviewer: N. Jackson of Vallejo, CA
Dioptase reminds me of white tropical beaches and clear blue-green water. Like orpiment, it is a bright color. I have recently been using it as a glaze over other pigments and the results are exciting, especially when used over Iconofile Raw Sienna. The reddish tones of the raw sienna show through the transparent blue-green glaze and make me think of stained copper. Iconofile dioptase is a grainy pigment, which as Russian iconographers know and prefer, gives the icon painter some options. I really like the graininess in some applications. I also like to grind the pigment to my own specifications for other situations. Dioptase is easy to grind. The description for dioptase on the Iconofile website says, "...can add brilliant highlights to glauconite." This is so true.

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