Star diopside
Variety CaMgSi2O6
About it
Black diopside cut as a cabochon to show a four-rayed star from aligned magnetite needles, which also make it cling weakly to a strong magnet. Comes mainly from southern India.
- Type
- Variety
- Group
- Diopside variety (pyroxene)
- Formula
- CaMgSi2O6
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 5.5–6.5
- Specific gravity
- 3.22–3.4
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy)
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Colours
- black, very dark green, with a four-rayed star
- Transparency
- opaque
- Cleavage and fracture
- good prismatic in two directions at about 87°; uneven fracture
- Magnetic
- Weakly
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.