Formula: (Mg,Fe)SiO3
Reflected/transmitted colour: Mg-rich members colourless, Fe-rich members reddish or greenish
Pleochroism: enstatite none, other compositions weak to strong, α pink, pale reddish brown, purple-violet, smoky brown, β yellow, pale greenish brown, pale reddish yellow, pale brown, γ green, pale green, smoky green
Optical isotropy/anisotropy: biaxial
Optical sign: enstatite +, others +/-
Refractive indices: α = 1.650-1.768, β = 1.653-1.770, γ = 1.658-1.788
Birefringence δ: 0.007-0.020
2Vα angle: 125-53-125°
Dispersion: r > v (over α) weak to strong
Optical orientation: α = y, β = x, γ = z
Optical axial plane: (100)
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