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    Ortopyroxene

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    Haryo Kristamtomo
    1) Orthopyroxene is a common mineral found in mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks that forms a solid solution between magnesium-rich enstatite and iron-rich ferrosilite. 2) It has physical and optical properties including orthorhombic crystal structure, good cleavage, and first-order gray coloration under the microscope. 3) Orthopyroxene occurs with other minerals like feldspars, clinopyroxene, olivine and is an important constituent of rocks like gabbro and peridotite.

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    Ortopyroxene

    Uploaded by

    Haryo Kristamtomo
    52 views1 page
    1) Orthopyroxene is a common mineral found in mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks that forms a solid solution between magnesium-rich enstatite and iron-rich ferrosilite. 2) It has physical and optical properties including orthorhombic crystal structure, good cleavage, and first-order gray coloration under the microscope. 3) Orthopyroxene occurs with other minerals like feldspars, clinopyroxene, olivine and is an important constituent of rocks like gabbro and peridotite.

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    mineral ortopiroksen

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    ortopyroxene

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    1) Orthopyroxene is a common mineral found in mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks that forms a solid solution between magnesium-rich enstatite and iron-rich ferrosilite. 2) It has physical and optical properties including orthorhombic crystal structure, good cleavage, and first-order gray coloration under the microscope. 3) Orthopyroxene occurs with other minerals like feldspars, clinopyroxene, olivine and is an important constituent of rocks like gabbro and peridotite.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    52 views1 page

    Ortopyroxene

    Uploaded by

    Haryo Kristamtomo
    1) Orthopyroxene is a common mineral found in mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks that forms a solid solution between magnesium-rich enstatite and iron-rich ferrosilite. 2) It has physical and optical properties including orthorhombic crystal structure, good cleavage, and first-order gray coloration under the microscope. 3) Orthopyroxene occurs with other minerals like feldspars, clinopyroxene, olivine and is an important constituent of rocks like gabbro and peridotite.

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    Smith College - Geology 222b - Petrology

    Petrographic Data File

    Orthopyroxene (Opx)
    Property Value Comments

    Formula Enstatite (Mg end member): Solid solution between Enstatite and
    MgSiO3 Ferrosilite.

    Ferrosilite (Fe end member):


    FeSiO3

    Crystal System Orthorhombic 2/m 2/m 2/m

    Crystal Habit Massive, irregular, stubby


    prismatic. Longitudial sections
    typically rectangular.

    Hardness 5-6

    Specific Gravity 3.20-4.00

    Cleavage Good cleavage on (210) Cleavage in two directions,


    Parting on (100) and (010) intersecting at nearly right angles.

    Hand Sample Brown to green/brown to High in Mg typically green/brown, high


    Color green/black. Fe tends to be darker, green/black.

    Streak White to gray.

    Color/Pleochroism Grayish, yellowish or greenish


    white to olive green/brown. Pale
    pink to green pleochroism

    Optic Sign Biaxial (+ or -) Enstatite and ferrosilite (+).


    Hypersthene (-)

    2V 50-132º Large range in 2V is created by


    variations in iron content.

    Optic Orientation X = b, Y = a, Z = c

    Refractive Variations in Mg and Fe content


    Indices 1.649-1.768 determines refractive indices; higher
    alpha = 1.653-1.770 Fe associated with higher indices.
    beta = 1.657-1.788
    gamma = 0.007-0.020
    delta =

    Max 0.020 Typically first order greys, high iron


    Birefringence may display, lower second order.

    Elongation parallel to c axis Tends to be length slow.

    Extinction Parallel in longitudinal sections


    and symmetrical in basal
    sections.

    Dispersion r>v 2V is larger in red light than violet


    light.

    Distinguishing Low birefringence, first order colors. Parallel extinction in longitudinal


    Features sections, pale pink to green pleochroism. Approximatly 90º cleavage
    planes. Thin irregular and wavy lamellae common.

    Occurrence Orthopyroxene high in Mg is common in gabbro and peridotite groups.


    Fe-rich orthopyroxene is typically found in diorite, syenite and granite.
    With Ca-clinopyroxene, plagioclase and olivine in mafic and ultramafic
    igneous rocks.

    Associated Feldspars, clinopyroxene, garnet, biotite and hornblende.


    Minerals

    Editors Elizabeth Thomas (2003), Andrea Gohl (2007) and Emma Hall (2013).

    References Introduction to Mineralogy, William D. Nesse, 2000. Introduction to


    Optical Mineralogy, William D. Nesse, 1991. Minerals in Thin Section,
    Dexter Perkins and Kevin R. Henke.

    Photomicrograph of orthopyroxene (low birefringence, skinny


    lamellae) surrounded by clinopyroxene (higer birefringence, coarse
    lamellae). Sample SIC-3. Large photo is1.7 mm wide. Image by
    Elizabeth Thomas.

    Orthopyroxene - Sample SIC-3. Image by Elizabeth Thomas.

    Orthopyroxene - Sample SIC - 4. First order greys and thin


    lamellae. Image by Andrea Gohl.

    Orthopyroxene - Sample SIC - 3. Orthopyroxene with high relief


    and thin irregular lamellae. Image by Andrea Gohl.

    Orthopyroxene - Sample SIC -5. Orthopyroxene seen in the


    center. Note plagioclase (left of orthopyroxene) with typical
    twinning. Image by Andrea Gohl.

    Orthopyroxene - Sample BV203. The width of the field of view is


    2.28 mm. Image by Emma Hall.

    WWW Images University of North Carolina


    UCLA Petrographic Workshop

    Return to Petrography Index

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