Abstract

The Olivine Group is a term that is sometimes incorrectly applied to just two minerals that are often lumped together and simply called olivine. The two minerals are fayalite and forsterite and are perhaps best referred to as the Olivine Series. Although olivine is not an official mineral name in itself, it is a term that is used to denote intermediate specimens between fayalite and forsterite. The true Olivine Group is more inclusive and is a group of similarly structured orthorhombic nesosilicates.

Olivine Mineral

Olivine is really a title for a sequence between two end constituents, fayalite and forsterite. Fayalite is the metal wealthy constituent with a untainted equation of Fe2SiO4. Forsterite is the magnesium wealthy constituent with a untainted equation of Mg2SiO4. The two minerals pattern a sequence where the metal and magnesium are exchanged for each other without much result on the crystal structure. Fayalite due to its metal content has a higher catalogue of refraction, is heavier and has a darker hue than forsterite. Otherwise they are tough to differentiate and effectively all specimens of the two minerals comprise both metal and magnesium. For ease sake and general public acknowledgement, they are often treated as one inorganic, olivine (Beran, 57). Olivine, although is not formally identified as a inorganic (see other non-minerals for example apophyllite, tourmaline, mica, serpentine, chlorite and apatite).

Olivine is renowned by numerous names. Besides its genuine inorganic titles, forsterite and fayalite, it is renowned as "chrysolite", "evening emerald" and peridot. The period chrysolite is an vintage German title that was directed to gemmy olivine, but now is only occasionally utilised to mention to lightweight yellowish green olivine. Evening emerald is a title granted to olivine's gemstone kind, peridot, by some jewelers in some try to boost the clear-cut worth of the stones (Brown, 275).

Olivine's gemstone ...