Olivine
Image: Victoriia Andreieva (CC BY 4.0)
Mineral NameOlivine
Chemical Formula(Mg,Fe)2SiO4
Mohs Hardness6.5
Crystal Systemorthorhombic
Lustervitreous
Streak Colorwhite
Cleavagepoor on {010} and {100}
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity3.27
Colorsgreen, yellowish-green, brown, black, colorless
Transparencytransparent
Type LocalityHawaii (USA), Arizona (USA), Norway, Pakistan, Myanmar
Mineral GroupSilicates
Usesgemstone (peridot), refractory material, industrial abrasive, source of magnesium
Associated Mineralspyroxene, plagioclase, chromite, magnetite, spinel
Raritycommon
Description
This image shows a microscopic view of granular olivine crystals, displaying a range of colors from pale green to yellowish-green and clear, with some darker inclusions.
Geological Context
Olivine is a primary mineral in mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks such as basalt, gabbro, peridotite, and dunite, forming at high temperatures and pressures deep within the Earth's mantle. It is also found in some metamorphic rocks and meteorites.
