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Physical Properties of Forsterite
Cleavage:
{001} Good, {010} Distinct
Color:
Colorless, Green, Yellow, Yellow green, White.
Density:
3.21 - 3.33, Average = 3.27
Diaphaneity:
Transparent
Fracture:
Conchoidal - Fractures developed in brittle materials characterized by smoothly curving surfaces, (e.g. quartz).
Habit:
Crystalline - Fine - Occurs as well-formed fine sized crystals.
Habit:
Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.
Hardness:
6-7 - Orthoclase-Quartz
Luminescence:
Non-fluorescent.
Luster:
Vitreous (Glassy)
Magnetism:
Nonmagnetic
Streak:
white
Optical Properties of Forsterite
Gladstone-Dale:
CI meas= -0.051 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC) CI calc= -0.068 (Fair) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2172,KPDmeas= 0.2139,KC= 0.2034 Ncalc = 1.65 - 1.68
Optical Data:
Biaxial (-), a=1.636-1.73, b=1.65-1.739, g=1.669-1.772, bire=0.0330-0.0420, 2V(Calc)=56-84, 2V(Meas)=74-90. Dispersion r > v or r < v.
Pleochroism (x):
colorless.
Pleochroism (y):
colorless.
Calculated Properties of Forsterite
Electron Density:
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.25 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Forsterite =3.27 gm/cc.
Fermion Index:
Fermion Index = 0.04 Boson Index = 0.96
Photoelectric:
PEForsterite = 1.53 barns/electron U=PEForsterite x rElectron Density= 4.98 barns/cc.
Radioactivity:
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) Forsterite is Not Radioactive
Forsterite Classification
Dana Class:
51.03.01.02(51)Nesosilicate Insular SiO4 Groups Only
(51.03)with all cations in octahedral [6] coordination
Chemical Formula: 
