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Olivine VIII - Nesosilicates

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Name		Olivine
Chemistry		(Mg,Fe)2[SiO4]
Hardness		6.5 - 7
Lustre		vitreous - greasy
Colour		olive green, yellowish, yellowish green, greenish, black, red brown
Streak		white
Density [g/cm3]		3.3 - 4.2
Crystal habit		orthorhombic, crystals prismatic or thick tabular
Cleavage, Fracture		[001] good, [010] distinct, fracture conchoidal
other characteristics and occurrences		forsterite = Mg2[SiO4] - colourless, light green fayalite   = Fe2[SiO4] - wine yellow, olive green peridote   = (Mg,Fe)2[SiO4] - olive green in basic and ultrabasic rocks as idiomorphic crystals or grained aggregates

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© 2004 Büro für angewandte Mineralogie · Dr. Stephan Rudolph · D-47918 Tönisvorst

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