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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.

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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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
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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)
Related to:
  • 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.15IMA2008-059
    CaAl[AlSiO
     
    6
    		]
    9.DA.15IMA2008-042a
    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
    (Ca,Na
     
    2
    		,K
     
    2
    		)
     
    2
    		[Si
     
    4
    		O
     
    10
    		] · 3H
     
    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.

    Internet Links for Diopside

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Diopside in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Diopside details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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