Mineral - Diopside
Diopside
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Silicates
Toxicity
none
Formula
CaMg [Si₂O₆]
Unit Cell
a=9.75 b=8.90 c=5.25 β=106° Z=4
Physical Properties
Hardness
5.5 - 6
Streak
white
Density
Normal (2-3,5)
Cleavage
Distinct after {110}
Fracture
conchoidal,
uneven
Tenacity
Brittle
Optical Properties
Color
whiteyellowgreen
Birefringence
0.030
Luster
Vitreous,
Greasy
Transparency
translucent,
transparent
Pleochroism
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
monoclinic
Point Group
monoclinic-prismatic - 2/m
Space Group
C2/c (15)
Habit
lamellar, massive, prismatic
Formation
Magmatic
Paragenesis
Twinning
Rarity
Common
Synonyms
Diopside
Composition
Elements
Mass
SiO₂
54.66
Al₂O₃
0.07
Fe₂O₃
0.68
FeO
0.07
MnO
0.02
MgO
18.78
CaO
25.85
H₂O
0.22
Finland (Dana 1892)
Groups and Members
Pyroxene-Group
Clinopyroxene-Subgroup