olivine

ol·i·vine

O0067600 (ŏl′ə-vēn′)n. A mineral silicate of iron and magnesium, principally (Mg, Fe)₂SiO₄, found in igneous and metamorphic rocks and used as a structural material in refractories and in cements. Also called chrysolite.

[olive (from its color) + -ine.]

ol′i·vin′ic (-vĭn′ĭk), ol′i·vi·nit′ic (-və-nĭt′ĭk) adj.

olivine

(ˈɒlɪˌviːn; ˌɒlɪˈviːn) n1. (Minerals) an olive-green mineral of the olivine group, found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. The clear-green variety (peridot) is used as a gemstone. Composition: magnesium iron silicate. Formula: (MgFe)2SiO4. Crystal structure: orthorhombic. Also called: chrysolite 2. (Minerals) any mineral in the group having the general formula (Mg,Fe,Mn,Ca)2SiO4[C18: from German, named after its colour]

ol•i•vine

(ˈɒl əˌvin, ˌɒl əˈvin)

n. any of a group of magnesium iron silicates, (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄, occurring in olive-green to gray-green masses as an important constituent of basic igneous rocks. Also called chrysolite. [1785–95; < German Olivin=Olive olive + -in -ine²]

ol·i·vine

(ŏl′ə-vēn′) An olive-green to brownish-green mineral consisting primarily of iron, magnesium, and silica. Olivine is a common mineral in the igneous rocks, such as basalt and gabbro, that make up most of the Earth's crust beneath the oceans.

olivine

A dark green silicate.

Thesaurus

Noun

olivine - a mineral consisting of magnesium iron silicate; a source of magnesiumatomic number 12, magnesium, Mg - a light silver-white ductile bivalent metallic element; in pure form it burns with brilliant white flame; occurs naturally only in combination (as in magnesite and dolomite and carnallite and spinel and olivine)mineral - solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical compositionchrysolite - a brown or yellow-green olivine found in igneous and metamorphic rocks and used as a gemstone

Translations

olivinoolivineolivina

olivine

enUK

olivine

(ŏlĭv`ēn), an iron-magnesium silicate mineral, (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄, crystallizing in the orthorhombic system. It is a common constituent of magnesium-rich, silica-poor igneous rocks; metamorphism of some high magnesium sediments also can form olivine. Dunite consists almost entirely of olivine. It also occurs in lunar rocks and meteorites. Olivine has a characteristic yellow-green to olive-green color, hence the name. Transparent olivine of good color can be cut into gemstones; the gem form is known as peridot. Sources of gem-quality olivine are St. John's Island in the Red Sea, Myanmar, and Arizona. Magnesium-rich olivine has a high melting point and is used in the manufacture of refractories. It was formerly called chrysolite.

Olivine

(also peridot or chrysolite), a mineral of the neso-silicate class; the main representative of the olivine group. The olivine group includes forsterite, Mg₂[SiO₄]; olivine, (Mg,Fe)₂[SiO₄]; fayalite, Fe₂[SiO₄]; tephroite, Mn₂[SiO₄]; knebelite, (Fe,Mn)₂[SiO₄]; and monticellite, CaMg[SiO₄].

The minerals of the olivine group differ from one another in both properties and composition. They crystallize in the ortho-rhombic system to form tabular or prismatic crystals. The olivine structure is composed of isolated tetrahedral SiO₄^4- groups and of Mg²⁺ and Fe²⁺ cations surrounded by six oxygen ions. The structural distribution of magnesium and iron, as determined by Mössbauer spectra, serves as a geothermometer. Olivine has imperfect cleavage; its hardness on Mohs’ scale is 6.5–7.0, and its density is 3,200–4,400 kg/m³, depending on the number of heavy iron and manganese atoms per molecule. Its color varies from yellowish green to olive green; sometimes the mineral is colorless.

Olivine is widespread in nature as a rock-forming mineral in ultrabasic and basic rocks, such as dunites, peridotites, olivine gabbros, diabases, and basalts, including lunar basalt. The olivine structure rearranges to form a spinel-type lattice under high pressure (130–160 kilobars). The effect of hydrothermal solutions readily alters olivine into serpentine and sometimes also to talc. On the earth’s surface, olivine decomposes to yield magne-site, hydrous iron oxides, and opal. Transparent olivine crystals, or chrysolites, are precious stones.

REFERENCE

Mineraly: Spravochnik, vol. 3, fasc. 1. Moscow, 1972.

olivine

[′äl·ə‚vēn] (mineralogy) (Mg,Fe₂)SiO₄ A neosilicate group of olive-green magnesium-iron silicate minerals crystallizing in the orthorhombic system and having a vitreous luster; hardness is 6½-7 on Mohs scale; specific gravity is 3.27-3.37.

olivine

ol·i·vine

olivine

ol•i•vine

ol·i·vine

olivine

olivine

olivine

Olivine

REFERENCE

olivine

olivine

Words related to olivine

noun a mineral consisting of magnesium iron silicate

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