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Diopside

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Bellecombe, Châtillon, Aosta Valley, Italy
© D. Preite

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Formula:
CaMg[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
System:MonoclinicColour:light to dark green, ...
Lustre:Vitreous, DullHardness:5½ - 6½
Name:From the Greek for "double" and "appearance," in allusion to two possible orientations of the prism zone.


Pyroxene Group - Clinopyroxene Subgroup; see also the Diopside-Hedenbergite Series, and the Diopside-Johannsenite Series.

One of the most common members of the Pyroxene Group.

Classification of Diopside

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.01-50
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.DA.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
A : Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si2O6; pyroxene family
Dana 8th edition ID:65.1.3a.1

65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
1 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P=2
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.6.12

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
6 : Silicates of Ca with alkali or Mg or both
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Physical Properties of Diopside

Lustre:Vitreous, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Opaque
Colour:light to dark green, blue, brown, colourless, snow white, grey
Streak:white
Hardness (Mohs):5½ - 6½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
on {110}
Parting:on {100} and probably {010}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.22 - 3.38 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.278 g/cm3

Crystallography of Diopside

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:B2/b {B1 1 2/b} {C2/c} {C1 2/c 1}
Cell Parameters:a = 9.746Å, b = 8.899Å, c = 5.251Å
β = 105.79°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.095 : 1 : 0.59
Unit Cell Volume:V 438.23 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Prismatic crystals with square cross sections.
Twinning:Simple or multiple twins on {100} or {010} common.
Crystal Atlas:
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Diopside no.135 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Diopside

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.663 - 1.699 nβ = 1.671 - 1.705 nγ = 1.693 - 1.728
2V:Measured: 58° to 63°, Calculated: 56° to 64°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.030

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:weak to distinct r > v

Chemical Properties of Diopside

Formula:
CaMg[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
Essential elements:Ca, Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Ca, Mg, O, Si
Common Impurities:Fe,V,Cr,Mn,Zn,Al,Ti,Na,K

Relationship of Diopside to other Species

Series:Forms a series with Johannsenite (see here)
Forms a series with Hedenbergite (see here)
Member of Group:
Clinopyroxene Subgroup:
Pyroxene Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.DA.05Donpeacorite
(Mn
2+
 
,Mg)Mg[SiO
 
3
]
 
2
9.DA.05Enstatite
Mg
 
2
[SiO
 
3
]
 
2
9.DA.05Ferrosilite
Fe
 
2
[SiO
 
3
]
 
2
9.DA.10Clinoenstatite
Mg
 
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.10Clinoferrosilite
Fe
2+
 
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.10Kanoite
Mn
2+
 
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.10Pigeonite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Ca)(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.15Augite
(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Al,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)[(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.15Esseneite
CaFe
3+
 
[AlSiO
 
6
]
9.DA.15Hedenbergite
CaFe
2+
 
[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.15Johannsenite
CaMn
2+
 
[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.15Petedunnite
Ca(Zn,Mn
2+
 
,Mg,Fe
2+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.15Davisite
CaScAlSiO
 
6
9.DA.15Kushiroite
CaAl[AlSiO
 
6
]
9.DA.15Grossmanite
CaTi
3+
 
 AlSiO
 
6
9.DA.20Aegirine-augite
(Na,Ca)(Fe
3+
 
,Fe
2+
 
,Mg,Al)Si
 
2
O
 
6
9.DA.20Omphacite
(Ca,Na)(Mg,Al)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.25Aegirine
NaFe
3+
 
[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.25Jadeite
Na(Al,Fe
3+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.25Jervisite
(Na,Ca,Fe
2+
 
)(Sc,Mg,Fe
2+
 
)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.25Kosmochlor
NaCr[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.25Namansilite
NaMn
3+
 
[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.25Natalyite
Na(V
3+
 
,Cr)[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
9.DA.30Spodumene
LiAl[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.6.1Combeite
Na
 
2
Ca
 
2
Si
 
3
O
 
9
14.6.2Pectolite
NaCa
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.6.3Pectolite-M2abc
NaCa
 
2
[HSi
 
3
O
 
9
]
14.6.4Denisovite
Ca
 
2
(K,Na)Si
 
3
O
 
8
(F,OH)
 
2
14.6.5Tokkoite
K
 
2
Ca
 
4
Si
 
7
O
 
17
(O,OH,F)
 
4
14.6.6Mountainite
KNa
 
2
Ca
 
2
[Si
 
8
O
 
19
(OH)]·6H
 
2
O
14.6.7Rhodesite
KHCa
 
2
Si
 
8
O
 
19
·5H
 
2
O
14.6.8Miserite
K(Ca,Ce)
 
4
Si
 
5
O
 
13
(OH)
 
3
14.6.9Åkermanite
Ca
 
2
Mg[Si
 
2
O
 
7
]
14.6.10Monticellite
CaMg[SiO
 
4
]
14.6.11Merwinite
Ca
 
3
Mg[SiO
 
4
]
 
2
14.6.13Tremolite
☐[Ca
 
2
][Mg
 
5
][(OH)
 
2
|Si
 
8
O
 
22
]

Other Names for Diopside

Synonyms:
AcantoideAcimite-diopsideAlaliteChrome-AugiteCoccolite
DekalbiteKokkolithLeucaugiteMalacoliteMalakolith
Mussite (of Bonvoisin)ProtheiteSahliteSaliteTashmarine
Other Languages:
Basque:Diopsido
Croatian:Diopsid
Dutch:Diopsied
Esperanto:Diopsido
Finnish:Diopsidi
French:Diopside
German:Diopsid
Alalit
Chromaugit
Coccolit
Dekalbit
Leukaugit
Protheit
Sahlit
Salit
Hebrew:דיופסיד
Hungarian:Diopszid
Italian:Diopside
Japanese:透輝石
Polish:Diopsyd
Portuguese:Diópsido
Romanian:Diopsid
Russian:Диопсид
Slovak:Diopsid
Spanish:Diopsidos
Alalita
Coccolita
Dekalbita
Leucaugita
Malacolita
Sahlita
Salita
Swedish:Diopsid
Ukrainian:Діопсид
Varieties:
BaikaliteBlue DiopsideChromian DiopsideFedoroviteLavrovite
SchefferiteTraverselliteViolaneZinc-Schefferite

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Bright blue-white (white coloured material)(SW UV)
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Diopside

Reference List:Smith, J.V. (1966) X-ray emission microanalysis of rock-forming minerals. VI: Clinopyroxenes near the diopside-hedenbergite join. Journal of Geology: 74: 463-467.

Clark, J.R., D.E. Appleman, and J.J. Papike (1969) Crystal-chemical characterization of clinopyroxenes based on eight new structure refinements. MSA Special Paper 2: 31-50.

Ghose, S. & P. Schindler (1969), Determination of the distribution of trace amounts on Mn+2 in diopsides by electron paramagnetic resonance. In: Pyroxenes and Amphiboles: Crystal chemistry and phase petrology: Mineralogical Society of America Special Paper 2: 51-58.

Kushiro, I. (1969), The system forsterite-diopside-silica with and without water at high pressures: American Journal of Science: 267: 269-294.

Cameron, M., S. Shigeho, C.T. Prewitt & J.J. Papike (1973), High temperature crystal chemistry of acmite, diopside, hedenbergite, jadeite, spodumene and ureyite: American Mineralogist: 58: 594-618.

Levien, L. and Prewitt, C.T. (1981) High pressure structural study of diopside. American Mineralogist: 66: 315-323.

Rossi, G., Smith, D.C., Ungaretti, L., and Domeneghetti, M.C. (1983) Crystal-chemistry and cation ordering in the system diopside-jadeite: a detailed study by crystal structure refinement. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 83: 247-258.

Richet, P. and Bottinga, Y. (1984b) Anorthite, andesine, wollastonite, diopside, cordierite, and pyrope thermodynamics of melting, glass transitions, and properties of the amorphous phases. Earth and Planetary Science Letters: 67: 415-432.

Johnson, K.T.M., Dick, H.J.B., and Shimizu, N. (1990) Melting in the oceanic upper mantle: an ion microprobe study of diopsides in abyssal peridotites. Journal of Geophysical Research: 95: 2661-2678.

Raterron, P. & O. Jaoul (1991), High-temperature deformaton of diopside single crystal, 1., Mechanical data: Journal of Geophysical Research, B, Solid Earth and Planets: 96: 14277-14286.

Knoche, R., Dingwell, D.B., and Webb, S.L. (1992a) Non-linear temperature dependence of liquid volumes in the system albite-anorthite-diopside. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 111: 61-73.

Knoche, R., Dingwell, D.B., and Webb, S.L. (1992b) Temperature-dependent thermal expansivities of silicate melts: The system anorthite-diopside. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 56: 689-699.

Harlow, G.E. (1996) Structure refinement of a natural K-rich diopside: the effect of K on the average structure. American Mineralogist: 81: 632-638.

Courtial, P., Téqui, C., and Richet, P. (2000) Thermodynamics of diopside, anorthite, pseudowollastonite, CaMgGeO4 olivine, and åkermanite up to near the melting point. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals: 27: 242-250.

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