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Augite

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Mount Teide, Tenerife, Santa Cruz de Tenerife Province, Canary Islands
© 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)

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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 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.05Akimotoite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)SiO
 
3
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.20Aegirine-augite
(Na,Ca)(Fe,Fe,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)
Esperanto names:
Aŭgito
German names:
AugitViolatit
Russian names:
Авгит
Spanish names:
AugitaViolatita
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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  • Augite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Augite

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