Olivine
Mineral (Mg,Fe)2SiO4
Also called Chrysolite
About it
Group name for glassy olive-green grains in basalt, gabbro, and peridotite; the forsterite to fayalite series is listed under each species. Gem olivine is peridot.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Silicate (nesosilicate), olivine group
- Formula
- (Mg,Fe)2SiO4
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 6.5–7
- Specific gravity
- 3.2–4.4
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy)
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Colours
- olive green, yellow-green, brown, black
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- poor; conchoidal fracture
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.