Olivine Mineral Data

General Olivine Information

Chemical Formula:

(Mg,Fe)2SiO4

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 153.31 gm

Magnesium 25.37 % Mg 42.06 % MgO

Iron 14.57 % Fe 18.75 % FeO

Silicon 18.32 % Si 39.19 % SiO₂

Oxygen 41.74 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Mg_1.6Fe²⁺_0.4(SiO₄)

Environment:

Basic and ultra basic igneous rocks. Goup species name.

IMA Status:

Not Approved IMA

Locality:

Common world wide occurrence. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after the green color.

Name Pronunciation:

Olivine

Synonym:

Calcio-olivine - calcium-dominant member of the olivine group

Chrysolite - light yellowish green

Peridot

Olivine Image

Images:

Forsterite Olivine

Comments: Peridot (Forsterite) recrystallized at the base.
Location: Skardu, Nooristan, Pakistan. Scale: 2.5 x 2.7 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Olivine Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.4663:1:0.6146

Cell Dimensions:

a = 4.78, b = 10.25, c = 6.3, Z = 4; V = 308.67 Den(Calc)= 3.30

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal H-M Symbol (2/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: Pbnm

Physical Properties of Olivine

Cleavage:

{001} Good, {010} Distinct

Color:

Yellowish green, Olive green, Greenish black, Reddish brown.

Density:

3.27 - 3.37, Average = 3.32

Diaphaneity:

Transparent to translucent

Fracture:

Brittle - Conchoidal - Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.

Habit:

Massive - Granular - Common texture observed in granite and other igneous rock.

Hardness:

6.5-7 - Pyrite-Quartz

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Olivine

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= 0.01 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.004 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2,KPDmeas= 0.1988,KC= 0.2009
Ncalc = 1.66 - 1.68

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.63-1.65, b=1.65-1.67, g=1.67-1.69, bire=0.0400, 2V(Calc)=88, 2V(Meas)=46-98. Dispersion relatively weak.

Calculated Properties of Olivine

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.25 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Olivine =3.30 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.03
Boson Index = 0.97

Photoelectric:

PE_Olivine= 5.56 barns/electron
U=PE_Olivine x rElectron Density= 18.11 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Olivine is Not Radioactive

Olivine Classification

Dana Class:

51.03.01.00 (51)Nesosilicate Insular SiO4 Groups Only

(51.03)with all cations in octahedral [6] coordination

(51.03.01)Olivine group

51.03.01.00 Olivine* (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

51.03.01.01 Fayalite Fe2SiO4 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

51.03.01.02 Forsterite Mg2SiO4 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

51.03.01.03 Liebenbergite (Ni,Mg)2SiO4 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

51.03.01.04 Tephroite Mn2SiO4 P nma 2/m 2/m 2/m

51.03.01.05 Laihunite FeFe2(SiO4)2 P 2₁/b 2/m

Strunz Class:

09.AC.05 09 - SILICATES (Germanates)

09.A - Nesosilicates

09.AC -Nesosilicates without additional anions;

09.AC.05 Forsterite Mg2SiO4 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

09.AC.05 Glaucochroite CaMnSiO4 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

09.AC.05 Fayalite Fe2SiO4 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

09.AC.05 Olivine* (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

09.AC.05 Kirschsteinite CaFeSiO4 Pbmn 2/m 2/m 2/m

09.AC.05 Laihunite FeFe2(SiO4)2 P 2₁/b 2/m

09.AC.05 Liebenbergite (Ni,Mg)2SiO4 Pbnm 2/m 2/m 2/m

09.AC.05 Tephroite Mn2SiO4 P nma 2/m 2/m 2/m

Other Olivine Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Dana) OPTIC PROP.(Dana)

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Olivine

(Mg,Fe)2SiO4
Dana No: 51.03.01.00 Strunz No: 09.AC.05
Locality:

Notes:

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