Formula: (Fe,Mg)2SiO4
Origin of name: from olive green colour
Crystal system: orthorhombic
Crystal class: 2/m 2/m 2/m
Twinning:
Unit cell:
Colour: various shades of green, from yellow-green to olive green to greenish black, also white, brown or black
Diaphaneity: transparent to translucent
Luster: vitreous to greasy
Habit: crystals thick tabular, massive, compact or granular
Hardness: 7
Specific gravity: 3.28 to 4.32
Cleavage: 2; {010} and {100} imperfect
Tenacity:
Streak: colourless
Synonyms/varieties:
Comments: see also the end-member of the olivine series fayalite and forsterite
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