Event Title
Diopside: History, properties, occurrences, and uses
Location
Parker-Reed, SSWAC
Start Date
1-5-2014 2:00 PM
End Date
1-5-2014 3:00 PM
Project Type
Poster
Description
First described circa 1808 in Europe by an unknown source, diopsides name derives from the Greek dis, meaning twice and opsis, meaning appearance, due to the fact that its vertical prism can be oriented two ways. Diopside wasnt truly researched until later in the 20th century, when a large vein of chromium-bearing diopside was found by a mining expedition in Russia. Discovered as a cheaper and more abundant alternative to tsavorite or emerald, diopside soon rose to popularity as a gemstone. However, its softness (a 6 on the Mohs scale of hardness) and tendency to darken in larger samples still limits its use to small earrings and pendants. To learn more about diopsides usage, physical aspects, and optical properties, stop by my poster.
Faculty Sponsor
Tasha Dunn
Sponsoring Department
Colby College. Geology Dept.
CLAS Field of Study
Natural Sciences
Event Website
http://www.colby.edu/clas
ID
787
Diopside: History, properties, occurrences, and uses
Parker-Reed, SSWAC
First described circa 1808 in Europe by an unknown source, diopsides name derives from the Greek dis, meaning twice and opsis, meaning appearance, due to the fact that its vertical prism can be oriented two ways. Diopside wasnt truly researched until later in the 20th century, when a large vein of chromium-bearing diopside was found by a mining expedition in Russia. Discovered as a cheaper and more abundant alternative to tsavorite or emerald, diopside soon rose to popularity as a gemstone. However, its softness (a 6 on the Mohs scale of hardness) and tendency to darken in larger samples still limits its use to small earrings and pendants. To learn more about diopsides usage, physical aspects, and optical properties, stop by my poster.
https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/clas/2014/program/249