Hypersthene

Hypersthene is the general term for mixed crystals of enstatite ferrosilite series whose end members belong to the pyroxene group. How the two end members also crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system hypersthene. The mixed crystal formula is given as (Fe, Mg ) 2 [ Si2O6 ].

Hypersthene is translucent to opaque and usually forms massive or granular -leaved mineral aggregates. He rarely developed small area rich crystals. Its color varies from greenish gray and greenish black to almost black. On the dash board but he leaves as enstatite or ferrosilite a gräulichweißen line. The other properties of the hypersthene as, among others, Mohs hardness and density are similar to those of the end members or between the final values ​​.

An almost exclusively composed of hypersthene, ie mono- mineral rock is called Hypersthenit.

Etymology and history

The name comes from the Greek ὑπέρ hyper " about" and σθένος stheos "strength" and to express that hypersthene is harder than the chemically related variety Bronzite.

In 1988, the first still recognized as a mineral hypersthene was renamed by the Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names of the International Mineralogical Association in ferrosilite .. The mineral status was the hypersthene but now withdrawn.

Occurrence

Hypersthene comes in many sites worldwide and is also a constituent of iron meteorites.

Use

Hypersthene is occasionally made ​​into gems showing in smooth satin gloss polish.