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Augite

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Mount Teide, Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Province, Canary Islands, Spain
© Rob Lavinsky

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Formula:
(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Al,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)[(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
6
]
System:MonoclinicColour:Brown-green, black, ...
Lustre:Vitreous, Resinous, DullHardness:5½ - 6
Name:From the Greek for "luster," in allusion to the appearance of its cleavage surfaces.


Pyroxene Group - Clinopyroxene Subgroup

Classification of Augite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/F.01-90
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.3

65 : INOSILICATES Single-Width,Unbranched Chains,(W=1)
1 : Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1 with chains P=2
Hey's CIM Ref.:16.23.1

16 : Silicates Containing Aluminum and other Metals
23 : Aluminosilicates of Fe, Ca, and Mg
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Occurrences of Augite

Geological Setting:Major rock forming mineral in mafic igneous rocks, ultramafic rocks and some high grade metamorphicc rocks.

Physical Properties of Augite

Lustre:Vitreous, Resinous, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Brown-green, black, green-black, brown, purplish brown
Streak:Greenish grey
Hardness (Mohs):5½ - 6
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
Good on {110}
Parting:on {100} and {010}
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.19 - 3.56 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.31 g/cm3

Crystallography of Augite

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 = 9.699Å, b = 8.844Å, c = 5.272Å
β = 106.97°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.097 : 1 : 0.596
Unit Cell Volume:V 432.53 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Stubby prismatic crystals
Twinning:Simple or multiple on {100}, also on {001}
Crystal Atlas:
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Augite no.24 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)
Augite no.111 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

About Crystal Atlas

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Optical Data of Augite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.680 - 1.703 nβ = 1.684 - 1.711 nγ = 1.706 - 1.729
2V:Measured: 40° to 52°, Calculated: 48° to 68°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.026

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:r > v weak to distinct
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X= pale green, pale brown, green, greenish yellow
Y= pale brown, pale yellow-green, violet
Z= pale green, grayish green, violet

Chemical Properties of Augite

Formula:
(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe
2+
 
,Al,Fe
3+
 
,Ti)[(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
6
]
Essential elements:Ca, Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Na, O, Si, Ti
Common Impurities:Ti,Cr,Na,Mn,K

Relationship of Augite to other Species

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.15Diopside
    CaMg[Si
     
    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:

    - +
    16.23.2Dorrite
    Ca
     
    2
    		(Mg,Fe
    2+
     
    		)
     
    2
    		Fe
    3+
    4
    		[O
     
    2
    		|Al
     
    4
    		Si
     
    2
    		O
     
    18
    		]
    16.23.3Vesuvianite
    Ca
     
    10
    		(Mg,Fe)
     
    2
    		Al
     
    4
    		Si
     
    9
    		O
     
    34
    		(OH)
     
    4
    16.23.5Ferrohornblende
    ☐[Ca
     
    2
    		][Fe
    2+
    4
    		Al][(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    7
    		O
     
    22
    		]
    16.23.6Magnesiohornblende
    ☐[Ca
     
    2
    		][Mg
     
    4
    		Al][(OH)
     
    2
    		|AlSi
     
    7
    		O
     
    22
    		]
    16.23.7Aerinite
    Ca
     
    5
    		(Fe
    3+
     
    		,Al,Fe
    2+
     
    		,Mg)(Al,Mg)
     
    6
    		[HSi
     
    12
    		O
     
    36
    		(OH)
     
    12
    		][(CO
     
    3
    		)
     
    1.2
    		(H
     
    2
    		O)
     
    12
    		]

    Other Names for Augite

    Synonyms:
    BasaltineHedenbergite-ÅgirinViolatiteVolcanic ShorlVolcanite (of Delamétherie)
    Other Languages:
    Basque:Augita
    Catalan:Augita
    Croatian:Augit
    Czech:Augit
    Dutch:Augiet
    Esperanto:Aŭgito
    Finnish:Augiitti
    French:Augite
    German:Augit
    Violatit
    Hebrew:אוגיט
    Hungarian:Augit
    Italian:Augite
    Japanese:普通輝石
    Lithuanian:Augitas
    Polish:Augit
    Russian:Авгит
    Serbian (Cyrillic Script):Аугит
    Spanish:Augita
    Violatita
    Swedish:Augit
    Tajik (Cyrillic Script):Авгит
    Ukrainian:Авгіт
    Varieties:
    AsteroiteFassaiteJeffersoniteKorea-AugiteSoda-Augite
    Titanian Augite

    Other Information

    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 Augite

    Reference List:Dana, E.S. (1892) Dana's Systerm of Mineralogy, 6th. edition, New York, NY: 352-364.

    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.

    Robinson, P., Ross, M., Nord, G.L., Smyth, J.R., and Jaffe, H.W. (1977) Exsolution lamellae in augite and pigeonite: fossil indicators of lattice parameters at high temperature and pressure. American Mineralogist: 62: 857-873.

    Phillips, W.R. and D.T. Griffin (1981) Optical Mineralogy: 196-198.

    Deer, Howie, and Zussmann (1997): 2A: 294-398.

    Internet Links for Augite

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    • External Links:
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  • Look for Augite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Augite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Augite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Augite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
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    Localities for Augite

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