The diopside forms two series, one with the Hedenbergite, the other with the Johannsenite.
Diopside is part of the family of calcium clinopyroxenes.
There are diopsides stars. In this case the diopside must be cut into cabochon in order to highlight the star.
A very nice variety of diopside is chromium diopside or chromium diopside. This variety of an intense green (due to the presence of chromium) comes from Yacoutie, Siberia, Russia.
To learn more about the mineralogy of Diopside, see Mindat.org->
