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Mineral group · Silicate

Pyroxene

XY(Si,Al)₂O₆

Single-chain silicates — augite, diopside, jadeite, spodumene, enstatite.

Hardness5–7
Crystal systemMonoclinic
ClassSilicate
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Pyroxene specimen

Cristalli di pirossene ritrovati su una spiaggia del Lago di Bracciano, Lazio — Photo: Albarubescens · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pyroxene

The single-chain silicate group — augite, diopside, enstatite and kin — essential minerals of basalt and peridotite.

Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

Pyroxene is a mineral group, with the chemical formula XY(Si,Al)₂O₆.

It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system.

Key properties: Mohs hardness 5–7; typically green or black or brown or white.

Collections: Everyday Minerals.

Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data and a Wikipedia introduction — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet. Browse more P minerals or help write this entry.