SILICATES: CHAIN STRUCTURES (INOSILICATES) 303

PYROXENES
Orthopyroxenes Clinopyroxenes
Aegirine - augite
A
Enstatite
8
C I 0
Clino enstatite DIOPS ID E I Jadeite
MgSi0 3 MgSi0 3- - - - - - - (Co, Mg)(Si03)2 : Na Al (Si03)2
CHAPTER 14
I
Hypersthene I AUGITE
Co (Mg, Fe)(Si03)2
I
I
I
II I I
I
I

(Mg,Fe) Si03 I [(Al Fe)203] x I I

Silicates: Chain St1'uctUl'es (Inosilicates) I
!
I
Clinohyper sthene
' I
:
I
:
LiAl (Si0 3)2
I
I
!
(Mg,Fe) Si0 3 PIGEONITE: I
I
Ferrohypersthene
(Fe, Mg) Si03
m(Ca,Mg)(Si0 3)21'
n (Mg, Fe) Si0 3
I
I
PYROXENE GROUP AMPHIBOLE GROUP EPIDOTE GROUP FeSi0 3 FeSi0 3 - - - --- - (Co, Fe) (S i0 3)2 Na Fe (Si0 3 )2
Orthopyroxenes Orthoamphiboles Orthorhombic Ferrosi lite Clinoferrosilite Hedenbergite Aegirine
Enstatite Anthophyllite Zoisite
Hypersthene Clinoamphibol es Monoclinic FIG. 14-1. A diagram showing the approximate chemical relations of the metasilicatcs
that comprise the pyroxene group. A: Enstatite-Ferrosilite series; B: Clinoenstatitc-
Clinopyroxenes Cummingtonite Clinozoisite Clinoferrosilite series; C: Diopside-Hedenbergite series; D: Jadeite-Aegirine series.
Diopside Grunerite Epidote Augite and pigeonite are intermediate in composition. Spodumene represents a species
Augite Tremolitc- Picdmontite on the border of the pyroxene group . Aegirine-augite is intem1ediate.
Pigeonite Actinolite Allanite
Hedenbergite Hornblende
Aegirine-augite Lamprobolite Aegirine
Aegirine Riebeckite
Spodumene
C/I X { ;;;g;;;;;;;-ougite 6°
Jadeite Glaucophane 127"
Jodeite <j,o C
Spodumene
Pioeon/te
The ina silicates contain a number of minerals important in igneous C/I Z ') Oiopside
and metamorphic rocks. In tllis structural division SiO.! groups may form Hedenbergite
a continuous chain (Si0 3 ) n. After the tectosilicates, the ina silicates con- Augite
stitute one of the most important assemblages of rock-forming minerals.

PYROXENE GROUP
The pyroxenes are metasilicates wllich frequently form original rock
constituents (Figure 14-1). A considerable range in chenlical composition
and corresponding optical properties prevails throughout the group. I _-----
Crystals exhibit significant cross sections (Figures 8-30, 8-33). Cleavage .______---r-
is parallel to {110} and the angle (110:110) is about 93° . At times part-
ing occurs parallel to {001} or {lOO} . Twinning with {100} as twin-plane .
FIG .
0-----
14-2. Clinopyroxene extinction angles on (010).
is rather common. The minerals are all bia;'(ial with rather large axial
angles. The axial plane of the optic axes is (010).
Individual members of the group are often identifIed by usc of th e
maximum extinction ::U1gles in longitudinal scctions ( Figure 14-1 ancl
14-2).
.'10.C)
304 MINERAL DESCRIPTIONS
SILICATES: CHAI N STRUCTURES (INOSILICA TES ) 305
Augite and pigeonite are by far the most common minerals of the Intergrowth. The intergrowth of enstatite with a monodinic pyroxene
group. Jadeite and aegirine are known as soda pyroxenes. is rather common. They have their coaxes in common and at first glance
resemble polysynthetic twins .

•
Distinguishing Features. Enstatite is distinguished from hypersthene
by lack of pleochroism and from the monoclinic pyroxenes by parallel
extinction.
Alteration. It is common to find enstatite more or less altered to anti-
100 gorite. Pseudomorphs of antigorite after enstatite are known as bastite.
FIG. 14-3. Cross sections of minerals of the pyroxene group showing cleavage. Occurrence. Enstatite is a characteristic mineral of subsilicic igneous
rocks and derived serp entites. It is also found in meteorites.
The Orthopyroxenes
HYPE RSTHENE
ENSTATITE
(Mg,Fe) Si0 3 OrthOl'hom biro
MgSi0 3 (inc. Bronzite) Orthorhombic
n" 1.67:3 to 1.715
n" = 1.650 to 1.665 nil = 1.678 to 1.728
nil = 1.653 to 1.670 n -y = 1.683 to 1.731
n-y = 1.658 to 1.674 2 V = 63° to 90°; Opt. (-)
2V = 58° to 80°; Opt. ( +) a = C{ or X, b = {3 or Y, c = 'Y or Z
a = C{ or X, b = {3 or Y; c = 'Y or Z
Color. Colorless to neutral in thin sections. Bronzite has faint pleo- Color. Neutral to p ale green or pale red in thin sections. Plcochroie
from greenish to pale reddish. Inclusions are common and proclu (;c
chroism.
schiller structure (Figure 8-15) .
Form. Enstatite is found in prismatic crystals with the characteristic
pyroxene cross section. Inclusions are Form. Hypersthene usually occurs in sull-
c common and produce what is known as c hedral crystals of prismatic habit. The
! sections are nearly square.
! schiller structure in the ferroan variety
Cleavage. Parallel to {llO}; sometimes par.
known as bronzite. 001
allel to {OlO} and {100} .
Cleavage. {llO} in two directions at
Relief. High, n > balsam.
nearly right angles (88° and 92° ). Cleav-
age or parting parallel to {OlO} is also
sometimes present. In longitudinal sec-
- - -b tions the cleavage traces are in one direc- y---t--t
tion parallel to the outlines. I
Relief. High, n > balsam.
Birefringence. Rather weak, ny - n" =
0.008 to 0.009; the maximum interference
z color is pale yellow of the first order. z
FIG. 14-4. Orientation diagram of Extinction. Parallel in most sections.
enstatite. Section parallel to Twinning. Rarely present. F IG. 14-5. Orientation dia- F I(:. 11-6. ( X 9) Ilypclslhene ( grny) ill nor ile- . T Ill'
( 100). Orientation. The crystals and cleavage gra m of hypersth cnc. Sce tion lig ht mineral is plagIOclase and thc black ono mil l('
para llel lo (LOO) . lIelitc.
traces are length-slow.
Interference Figure. The figure is biaxial positive with a moderate to Bil'cr.-ingcncc. H:ltlier w(': lk , l 'y 11 " - 0.0'10 I n O.Olfi; Ih e In ax ll1ll1l1l
very large axial angle. The axial plane is {OlO} . D isperSion, l' < v weak. illl('1'f(' r (' II ('(' co lor is y ell !)\\! 10 n ·d o r III(' firsl md l·I·.
318 MINERAL DESCRIPTIONS SILICATES: CHAIN STRUCTURES (INOSILICATES) 3] 0
With the exception of crossite, in all the amphiboles the plane of tll(l

".
Twinning. Twins with {100} as twin-plane are knO\Vll.
Interference F igure. Spodumene gives a positive biaxial interference optic axes is {OlO}.
Rgure with a rather large axial angle. The a.xial plane is (010). Disper- A J"'IPHIBOLE Gnoup
sion, r < v.
Distinguishing Features. Spondumene resembles diopside in general
appearance, from which it may be distinguished by smaller extinction
angle (c 1\ y = ca. 25° ) and frequently by very conspicuous (100) parting.
Alteration. Spodumene is sometimes altered to a mixtme of albite and
muscovite known as cymatolite. The muscovite here is an alteration of
eucryptite (hexagonal LiAISiO,j ).
S 1l§ {A nthOp1y
0.-s
IlI'
.
Mmeral

lte .
Chemical

M F
r g e
't'
compOSI IOn
na

{1.598

I. G39
1.652
n/3
----------
1.615
1.6G2
¥F
n..,

1.623} 170900
1.676 -
2V c: 'Y or y,

() O
,

Cummingtonite. . 1F cMg 1. G45 1, ' GG4} I G8- 87° I I Ii :LO"

Kunzite is known to be altered to cookeite, a lithium ahuninum silicate { 1.G57 1. 669 1. 686
I. G57 1.684 I.G99} 17.9_8G O I 10 1.1"
related to lepidolite. Grunerite . . .. I F e { 1.663 1. 697 1. 717
Occurrence. The typical occmrence of spodumene is the lithium 1.600
granite pegmatites where it is associated with albite, lepidolite, elbaite,
and rare lithium minerals.
'8
(me. nephnte)
CaMgFc
,
{ 1 . 628
I. 614
1.613
1 . 6L1 4
1.625} 1 79- 850 I III
1. 655
g Hornblende .. . CaMgFeAl {
1.675
1.618
1.691
1.633} 1 52- 85° I 12 :\0"
1.701
The Pyroxenoids. Berman has suggested the term pyroxenoid for a ° 1 .670 1. 683 1. 693} G4 800 () Ill"
number of pyroxene-like meta silicates that are not isomorphous with any ::g Lamprobolite . CaMgFeAl {
1.692 1 730 1. 760
of the pyroxenes. Pyroxenoids include rhodonite, bustamite, pectolite, Riebeckite . . .. NaFe 1 . 693 1 : 695 1 . 697 RIi '
and wollastonite. Of these, only wollastonite is important as a rock-form- 1.621 1.638 I.G39} 450 II 0"
Glaucophane. NaAIFe
ing mineral. { 1.655 1. 664 11.G68

AMPHIBOLE GROUP
The amphiboles may b e considered in terms of Rve series (1) antho-
phyllite, (2) cummingtonite-grunerite, (3) tremolite-actinolite, (4)
aluminous amphibole, and (5) soda amphibole.
The amphibole group is more or less parallel to the pyroxono gnllip .
Corresponding members of the t",ro groups, however, are not dimOl'pll(lIl s.
Hornblende is by far the most common mineral of the group. Clllllillillg-
tonite is a pale brown monoclinic amphibole with the composilioll or 1111
thophyllite. It is rare. Basaltic hornblende is considered a d is[i Iwilv il
mineral under the name lamprobolite. Riebeckite, glaucophalll', IIl1d /I

• . . .",e'
few rarer minerals are known as soda mnphiboles .
The amphibole group is one of the most complex of alll11ill('l'nl
There are many amphiboles that cannot b e placed und ol' lilly or tho
minerals listed here.
FIG. 14-20. Cross sections of minerals of the amphibole group showin g cleavage. Orthoamphiboles

ANTHOPHYLLITE
The anthophyllite series is orthorhombic while the others are mono-
clinic. The composition RSi0 3 is fundamental to the group with (Mg,Fe)7(OH) 2(Si 'IOll) 2 OI'I.IIC)I'II()IIII)i C1

R=Ca,Mg,Fe. The anthophyllite, cummingtonite-grunerite and tremolite-

n" = 1.508 1.0 1.()52
actinolite series consist essentially of a range in RSi0 3 compositions,
= I.G 15 Lo I.GG2
while the aluminous and soda amphiboles contain Al and Na in addition
to the fundamental composition. The general chemical relationships are
11 .., = I.m:) 1.0 1.07(; ,
If = 70° 1.0 !jO° i Op!.. ( -\- )
outlined below. 0 I' .'\ , Ii (J OJ ' l' , t·
(I, 'Y or %
The amphiboles have rhombic to pseudohexagonal cross sections and
perfect cleavage parallel to {110} at angles of about 56° and 124°, as Color. (II' )llI lc · ('c) lol'( 'd ill 111i1i SC IIII( ' III III( ' (,(dlll'l·d
shown in Figure 14-20. Twinning parallel to {100} is fairly common. VIII'I( ' UI'S sllo\'v pl( '()('ilillblil .
282 MINERAL DESCRIPTIONS SILICATES : FRAMEWORK STRUCTURES (TECTOSILICATES ) 283
Extinction. The maximum extinction angle in albite twins (twinning
according to the albite law) varies from 51° to 70°. The extinction angle
on (001) cleavage Rakes varies from - 32° to -40°; on (010) it is
about -37° .
Twinning. As in albite.
Interference Figure. The figure is biaxial negative with a large axial
angle. Dispersion, 1" > v.
Distinguishing Features. AnOlthite is distinguished from other plagio-
clases by the extinction angles and refractive indices (Figures 13-26,
13-45a ).
Occurrence. Anorthite is rare compared with the other plagioclases.
It is found in a few contact-metamorphic deposits and in a few lavas.

THE FELDSP ATHOIDS

The role of the feldspathoids in some igneous rocks is similar to the

a
role of feldspars. They either occur in place of feldspars or may be found
with them but are comparatively rare. Nepheline may be a prominent
constituent as well as leucite.

THE F ELDSPATHOIDS

Chpm ical Crystal

Mineral Indices of refraction
("om position syste m

Leucite. KAI P scuclo isom etric n cr = 1.508, n"'( = 1.50!)

N e pheline. NaAI Hcx ag;on al n, = 1.527- 1.543, nw = 1.530- 1.547
Cancrinite .. N a AI + C0 3 Hexagonal n, = 1. 4!)6- 1.500, nw = 1.507- 1.524
Socialite . ... N a AI + Cl I sometric n = 1.483- 1.487
Haiiyne .. . . NaAI + S Isometric n = 1.496- 1.510
Meli li te .. . . Ca,Mg,AI T etragonal n, = 1.626- 1.62!), n w = 1.632- 1.634.

LEUCITE

KAl(Si0 3)2 Pseudoisometric b

(Iso metric above 600°C) FIC. 13-56 0,1). ( X I 5) (II) Lell cilc showin g an 1II1 cqllall y dcvcloped lr:Ij.""'I.olll"ci,ul
outlinc. (b) Thc salllc crystal showiJl g lwinning. ( X ni cols.)
na = 1.508
n"'( = 1.509 Helief. Fair, n < halsam.
Birefringence. Very wcak, ny - 11 " = 0.00] ; iLis l)('sl d e l !'e l!'d hy
Color. Colorless in thin sections. u sin g Lh e sensilive-violeL l es t plale. M inille crys Lals Iliay IIoL sll()w lilly
Form. Leucite practically always occurs in euhedral crystals. Th e IJircfl"i Il gC' II CC.
crystal form is the trapezohedron {211}, which shows octagonal sections. Exljll cl jOll. I s ()fl (' II W :IV )'.
It often contains inclusions, and these may be arranged in a regular Twinnin g. /\ 1'1 ': 11111"(' (lr k\l (' i!J ' is III(' ("()fllpli(,I1I( ,(l poly-
manner, either radially or concentrically (Figure 8-12). sy "lll('li l' l \Vi lill ili g ill Sl 'Vt ' n d dill ·('(in ll s. \V lddl 01 1( '11 I'I 'S ( ' III"II 'S 111111 of'
 SILICATES: SINGLE, MULTIPLE, AND RING S1O. STRUCTURES 345
considered to be a member of the group. Its crystal system is ortho-
rhombic. Larnite, with the composition Ca 2 SiO., is not a member of the
olivine group since it is monoclinic.

THE OLIVINE GROU P

CHAPTER 15 Chemical
Mineral na nil ny 2V
composit ion
--
Silicates: Single, Multiple, and Ring Si04 Structures 1. 651
Forsterite (Fo) . . .. . .. . . Mg 2SiO . { 1. 635 1. 670 } 85- 00 0
1.640 1 .660 1.680
1.670
Olivine (FomF a n) . .. ... . (Mg,Fe),SiO , { 1. 651 1 .689 } 70- 90 0
1. 681 1.706 1. 718
SINGLE sio. STRUCTURES (NESOSILICATES) { 1.805 1.838 1. 847 }
F ayalite (Fa). ..... . . Fe,SiO, 'J.7- li'l°
1.835 1 877 1.886
Olivine Group Garnet Group Sillimanite Family { 1. 641 1 646 1. 655 }
Monticellite ...... . . . CaMgSiO, 75- 80°
Forsterite Stamolite Andalusite 1. 651 1 .662 1.669
Olivine Sphene Sillimanite
Fayalite Idocrase K yanite Minerals of the olivine group are characterized by rather high refra c-
Monticellite Zircon Mullite tive indices and strong birefringence. The axial plane is (001) , and tht
Humite Group Axinite Dumortierite axial angle is usually very large.
Chondrodite Iddingsite Topaz Olivine is exceedingly abundant as a rock-forming mineral in subsilicie
igneous rocks. Forsterite is practically limited to metamorphic limcsto ll ('S
MULTIPLE sio. STRUCTURES (SOROSILICATES) or contact metamorphic zones . Fayalite is found in granite p egmatitcs, ill
lithophysae of rhyolitic obsidians , and in some ores, but it is rathcr )':11'(' .
Lawsonite
FORSTERITE
6- UNIT RING STRUCTURES (CYCLOSILICA TES )
Mg 2Si0 4 OrLhol'hOilli ,io
Beryl na = 1.635 to 1.640
Tourmaline nf3 = 1.651 t o 1.660
Cordierite ny = 1.670 to 1.680
Wollastonite 2V = 85° t o 90°; Opt. (+)
a = 'Y or Z, b = a or X, c = {3 01' Y
The minerals of Chapter 15 represent three divisions of silicate struc-
ture, nesosilicates, sorosilicates, and cyclosilicates. Minerals with single c
tetrahedral groups are more numerous and include a number of im- I
portant species. Only one multiple group silicate is included (lawsonite)
and four ring-group silicates (beryl, tourmaline, cordierite, and wol-
lastonite) .
SINGLE SiO. STRUCTURES
The Olivine Group
x ,
The olivine group consists of the two end members, forsterite and
fayalite, and the intermediate isomorphous mixtme, olivine. The rare
mineral tephroite, Mn 2 SiO" also belongs to the olivine group. The double
salt, monticellite, (CaMgSi0 1 ) , is closely related to olivine and is often FlO. Iii 1. ()",,"I I,II ,", ci l" !,,' " I1' ,,1' I'W ',IIIIII; I, SII" Ii O'1 p ili 10 11 ,,1 III ( 100 ).
344