Diopside

Diopside is a mineral from the pyroxene group, composed of calcium and magnesium silicate (CaMgSi₂O₆). It occurs as prismatic crystals with varied colors, ranging from light green to deep green, but can also be white, gray, or brown.

Diopside primarily forms in metamorphic and magmatic rocks, often associated with garnet, calcite, or feldspar.

The chromium-rich variety, with its intense green color, is particularly valued in gemology for its color, which is similar to that of emerald.