Chrome Diopside Carving

Chrome Diopside carvings in sphere shape and lingam.

Like the alluring emerald, the recently-discovered gemstone chrome diopside boasts a mesmerizing deep green. This precious stone gets its color from the mineral chromium. It ranges in color from light, bright green to almost black, with color growing darker as the gem size increases. The clarity of chrome diopside ranges widely, from transparent to opaque.

Chrome diopside is mined almost exclusively in a region of Eastern Siberia known as Inagli—an area better known for its impressive diamond deposits. In recent years, deposits have also been found in Pakistan.

Although chrome diopside wasn't a common gemstone before the 1980s, it wasn't unheard of. Some people believed that it fell from the Tree of Life. Others believed this stone led to the practice of burying loved ones with a chrome diopside, to make certain that they had an opportunity to move on to a new cycle of life. Still other folklore suggests that the stone brings tranquility and peace. For that reason, some cultures recommend that a chrome diopside be affixed to the forehead at night in the belief that it would bring sweet dreams. Some say that the green of this stone connects one directly to the earth and helps make a direct connection to earth's energy.

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