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Diopside
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  CaMgSi₂O₆  [Calcium Magnesium Silicate]

Discovered in 1800 ;   IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered).
The name Diopside is from the Greek words dis meaning double and opsis meaning appearance; apparently for the two possible orientations of the prism zone.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/F.01-50

Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.DA.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
A : Inosilicates with 2-periodic single chains, Si₂O₆;
15 : Pyroxene family

Related to:

Pyroxene Group. Clinopyroxene Subgroup. Diopside - Hedenbergite Series. Diopside - Johannsenite Series. Dimorph of Boehmite.

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

As prismatic crystals with nearly square cross sections, to 50 cm; granular, columnar, lamellar massive.

Twinning:

Simple or multiple twins common.

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[110] Distinct/Good

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven to Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

5.5 - 6.5

Density:

3.22 - 3.38 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Colorless, White, Yellow, light to dark Green, Blue, Brown, Grey, Black

Transparency:

Transparent, Opaque

Luster:

Vitreous, Dull

Refractive Index:

1.664 - 1.695  Biaxial ( + )

Birefringence:

0.024 - 0.031

Dispersion:

Weak to Moderate; r > v

Pleochroism:

None

Occurances

Geological Setting:

Typical of metamorphosed siliceous Ca, Mg-rich rocks of the pyroxene-hornfels or epidote-amphibolite facies; common in skarns, Ca, Mg-rich gneisses and schists, and some kimberlites and peridotites. Less common in alkalic olivine basalts and andesites.

Common Associations:

Calcite, Chondrodite, Clinohumite, Forsterite, Grossular, Monticellite, Quartz, Scapolite, Tremolite, Vesuvianite, Wollastonite

Common Impurities:

Fe, V, Cr, Mn, Zn, Al, Ti, Na, K

Type Locality:

Wide spread occurance.

Year Discovered:

1800

View mineral photos:

Diopside Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Diopside is a member of the Pyroxene Group of minerals that includes Aegirine, Diopside, Hedenbergite, Hypersthene, Jadeite, Petedunnite and Spodumene. It is an important rock forming mineral in some metamorphic and igneous rocks and is also found in meteorites.

Diopside is available in several varieties and colors from many locations, but the deep green, chromium-rich, Chrome Diopside is the most popular and most well known. Chrome Diopside is somewhat rare and is mostly available from the Ural Mountains in Russia. Violane is a rare blue, violet or purple, opaque variety of Diopside. There is also a green "cat's eye" variety and a very dark "star diopside" with an often very distinct 4-rayed star. Ordinary Diopside is usually white or pale green with a vitreous (glassy) luster.
 

  
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