New Zealand Blue/Grey Diopside Display Slab (Large) Ref 0054

New Zealand blue/grey diopside is a rare, hard, and often banded, fine-grained stone, frequently found as a nephrite mix in Southland or in Nelson region stones. Known for its blue, green, and grey tones, this material is highly prized for carving, often found in the Mararoa fields. It is sometimes associated with tremolite/diopside assemblages.

Regional Occurrence: While diopside is found at Red Mountain (Westland) and Kakanui, specific blue/grey varieties are frequently sourced from Southland and the Nelson area.

Characteristics: These stones are often described as fine-grained, hard, and capable of displaying amazing banding with blue, grey, and green tones.

Related Materials: Sometimes associated with nephrite or in "nephrite/diopside mix" scenarios.

Occurrence and Mineralogy: Diopside from the Dun Mountain area is well-documented. Blue-toned diopside is rare, with most diopside appearing green to dark green. In some contexts, particularly in New Zealand, these stones are described as having a "very tight fine-grained" structure.

Ref:0054 (For my use)