Information AboutDiopside |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT DIOPSIDE | |
| magnesium minerals | |
| calcium minerals | |
| silicate minerals | |
|
Diopside is found in Mafic (olivine Basalt s and Andesite s) to Ultramafic ( Kimberlite and Peridotite ) Igneous Rocks . It is also found in a variety of Metamorphic rocks. It often occurs in contact metamorphosed Skarn s developed from high silica Dolomite s. It is also a constituent of the Earth 's Mantle . giving it a rich green colour). At 5.5-6.5 on the Mohs scale, chrome diopside is relatively soft to scratch. Mohs scale of hardness does not measure tensile strength or resistance to fracture. Chrome diopside ((Ca,Cr)(Mg,Fe)Si2O6) is found near Kimberlite pipes, and as such is a prospecting indicator for Diamond s. Occurrences are reported in Canada, South Africa, Russia and a wide variety of other locations. Diopside was first described about 1800 and derives its name from the Greek ''dis'' - "two kinds" or "double" and ''opsis'' - "opinion" or "appearance" in reference to the two ways of orienting the vertical prism. REFERENCES
|
|
|