Mineral description : Enstatite

Enstatite from Stakholmen, Hassela.

Mineral class Silicates : Inosilicates : Enstatite - Hypersthene group (ortopyroxene)

Chemical formula Mg₂Si₂O₆

Crystal system Orthorombic

Habitus Short prismatic or tabular crystals. Often as lamellar or fibric masses

Cleavage Two good cleavage planes, fracture uneven. 85 degrees between cleavage planes

Hardness 5-6

Density 3.1-3.4

Color Often greyish green to greyish white, colorless, green brown or yellowish. Transparent to opaque.

Streak White

Luster Vitreous to pearly.

Description

Occurance Common as rockbilding material in basic and ultrabasic rocks as gabbro, norite and peridotite.

Associates

Notes Insoluble in acids and almost infusible.

Locations A very common mineral but rare in crystal form.

Vuoka-Ruopsok, Kvikkjokk. As big gray green crystals in olivine rock.
Stakholmen, Hassela. As white foliated masses with sillimanite, prismatine and talc.

To silicate index.
Mineral group index.
Main index.

If you have some questions, suggestions or comments you are welcome to write me a line or two.

axelsson@acc.umu.se

To my homepage.
Last changed : 1998-03-31

Mineral class	Silicates : Inosilicates : Enstatite - Hypersthene group (ortopyroxene)
Chemical formula	Mg₂Si₂O₆
Crystal system	Orthorombic
Habitus	Short prismatic or tabular crystals. Often as lamellar or fibric masses
Cleavage	Two good cleavage planes, fracture uneven. 85 degrees between cleavage planes
Hardness	5-6
Density	3.1-3.4
Color	Often greyish green to greyish white, colorless, green brown or yellowish. Transparent to opaque.
Streak	White
Luster	Vitreous to pearly.
Description
Occurance	Common as rockbilding material in basic and ultrabasic rocks as gabbro, norite and peridotite.
Associates
Notes	Insoluble in acids and almost infusible.
Locations	A very common mineral but rare in crystal form. Vuoka-Ruopsok, Kvikkjokk. As big gray green crystals in olivine rock. Stakholmen, Hassela. As white foliated masses with sillimanite, prismatine and talc.