Forsterite
| Forsterite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Mineral |
| Chemical formula | Magnesium silicate (Mg2SiO4) |
| Identification | |
| Colour | Green to yellow |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Cleavage | {010}, {100} – imperfect |
| Fracture | Conchoidal |
| Mohs Scale hardness | 7 |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Refractive index | α = 1.635, β = 1.651, γ = 1.670 |
| Specific gravity | 3.222 |
Forsterite (Mg2SiO4) is the magnesium rich end-member of the olivine solid-solution series. Forsterite crystallizes in the orthorhombic system (space group Pbnm) with cell parameters a 4.75 Å, b 10.20 Å and c Å 5.98.
References
- Deer, W. A., Howie, R. A., and Zussman, J. (1992). An introduction to the rock-forming minerals (2nd ed.). Harlow: Longman ISBN 0–582–30094–0
Categories: Minerals | Silicate minerals | Mineral stubs