olivine
Sign in to saveThe mineral olivine () is a magnesium iron silicate with the chemical formula . It is a type of nesosilicate or orthosilicate. The primary component of the Earth's upper mantle, it is a common mineral in Earth's subsurface, but weathers quickly on the surface. Olivine has many uses, such as the gemstone peridot (or chrysolite), as well as industrial applications like metalworking processes.
AI overview
Olivine is a magnesium iron silicate mineral that makes up most of Earth's upper mantle and is common deep underground, though it breaks down quickly when exposed to the surface. It has practical value as both a gemstone called peridot and as an industrial material used in metalworking.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Key facts
- Mineral.name
- Olivine
- Mineral.category
- NesosilicateOlivine groupOlivine series
- Mineral.boxbgcolor
- 95bf5d
- Mineral.image
- Olivine-gem7-10a.jpg
- Mineral.IMAsymbol
- Ol
- Mineral.strunz
- 9.AC.05
- Mineral.color
- Yellow to yellow-green
- Mineral.habit
- Massive to granular
- Mineral.system
- Orthorhombic
- Mineral.symmetry
- Pbnm (no. 62)
- Mineral.cleavage
- Poor
- Mineral.fracture
- Conchoidal
- Mineral.tenacity
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Identification and paragenesis
- Extraterrestrial occurrences
- Crystal structure
- High-pressure polymorphs
- Weathering
- Mining
- Norway
- Applications
- Experimental uses
- See also
- References
- External links
The mineral olivine () is a magnesium iron silicate with the chemical formula . It is a type of nesosilicate or orthosilicate. The primary component of the Earth's upper mantle, it is a common mineral in Earth's subsurface, but weathers quickly on the surface. Olivine has many uses, such as the gemstone peridot (or chrysolite), as well as industrial applications like metalworking processes.
thumb|Olivine in cross-polarized light