Diaspore is hard enough to make a durable jewelry stone, but the typical light brownish color is not easy to sell. Despite the large Turkish material, this is a very rare gemstone indeed.
Diaspore
Value
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Diaspore crystals from Massachusetts were, when found, apparently suitable for cutting, and a few gems may have been cut from the Pennsylvania material. However, cut disapore was, at best, an extremely unlikely gemstone until the find of crystals in Turkey. This locality has produced the vast majority of cut diaspore now in existence. Moreover, the locality produced cuttable pieces enormously larger than had ever been known previously in the mineral. Private Collection: some of the larger Turkish stones include: 157.66 (brown, emerald-cut—world's largest): 26.97 (light brown, oval); 10.63 (light brown).
Occurrence: In metamorphosed limestones, chloritic schists, and altered igneous rocks. Also in bauxite deposits.
Mamaris, Yagatan, Mugla Province, Turkey: gemmy, pale brown crystals of very large size.
Chester, Massachusetts: with corundum in emery deposit; some fragments cuttable.
Chester County Pennsylvania: fine transparent crystals up to 2 inches long and ¼ inch thick, colorless to brown; some cuttable. Hungary: good crystals.
Postmasburg district, South Africa: manganiferous variety.
Comments: Diaspore is hard enough to make a durable jewelry stone, but the typical light brownish color is not easy to sell. Despite the large Turkish material, this is a very rare gemstone indeed.
Name: From the Greek diaspeirein, meaning to scatter, because it falls apart in the hot flame of a blowpipe.
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