Diopside

Diopside (hardness between 5.5 and 6.5) is an important rock-forming mineral from the group of monoclinic pyroxenes. Its color varies based on the presence of the chemical elements magnesium or calcium, and therefore it can be found from a colorless variety to a beautiful deep green, then in milky white, gray and, in the case of viola, even purple. It has a vitreous luster, transparency: translucent to opaque, scratch is white.. Its name, originating from the Greek, is composed of two words dis and òpsè, which literally means two faces. Diopside was first discovered and described around 1800.