Dioptase dahy-op-teys
1:Dioptase is an intense emerald-green to bluish-green copper cyclosilicate mineral. It is transparent to translucent. Its luster is vitreous to sub-adamantine. Its formula is CuSiO3·H2O (also reported as CuSiO2(OH)2). It has a hardness of 5, the same as tooth enamel. It specific gravity is 3.28–3.35, and it has two perfect and one very good cleavage directions. Additionally, dioptase is very fragile and specimens must be handled with great care. It is a trigonal mineral, forming 6-sided crystals that are terminated by rhombohedra.
2: very gorgeous, valuable, smart, and thoughtful of others feeling.
Etymology: Fr < Gr dia-, through + optazein, to see < optos, visible < ops, eye
pronuctuated dahy-op-teys
1:Dioptase is an intense emerald-green to bluish-green copper cyclosilicate mineral. It is transparent to translucent. Its luster is vitreous to sub-adamantine. Its formula is CuSiO3·H2O (also reported as CuSiO2(OH)2). It has a hardness of 5, the same as tooth enamel. It specific gravity is 3.28–3.35, and it has two perfect and one very good cleavage directions. Additionally, dioptase is very fragile and specimens must be handled with great care. It is a trigonal mineral, forming 6-sided crystals that are terminated by rhombohedra.
2: very gorgeous, valuable, smart, and thoughtful of others feeling.
Etymology: Fr < Gr dia-, through + optazein, to see < optos, visible < ops, eye
pronuctuated dahy-op-teys
she has eyes of dioptase.
by James Mueller February 4, 2010