Constituent
Name
Olivine
IMA name
Olivine group
Class
silicate mineral
Compound type
nesosilicate
Relevance
main - major
Arrangement
single phase
Mass fraction
1.0
Formula
A23(SiO4)12      where A=Mg,Fe2+,Fe3+,Ni and/or Mn
Chemical formula
(Mg,Fe2+,fe3+,Mn,Ni)(2-3)(SiO4)(1-2)
Elemental formula
(Mg)0-2 (Mn)0-2 (Ni)0-2 (Fe2+)0-2 (Fe3+)0-2 (Si)1-2 (O)4-8
Isotope mixture type
terrestrial abundance
  Formula Name Family Number min-max Isotope mole fraction State Relevance
Mg Magnesium element 0 - 2 constituent element main
Mn Manganese element 0 - 2 constituent element main
Ni Nickel element 0 - 2 constituent element main
Fe2+ Iron(II) cation element 0 - 2 constituent element main
Fe3+ Iron(III) cation element 0 - 2 constituent element main
Si Silicon element 1 - 2 constituent element main
O Oxygen element 4 - 8 constituent element main
Chemical functions
  Function Number
(SiO4)4
Chemical bonds
  Bond Number
SiO 4
Oxides
Formula MgO MnO FeO Fe2O3 NiO SiO2
Mass fraction (%)

Strunz

Class
silicates (09)
Division
nesosilicate (09.A)
Family
without additional anions; cations in octahedral [6] coordination (09.AC)
Code
09.AC.05

Dana

Major class
silicates (VIII)
Class
nesosilicate insular SiO4 groups only (51)
Type
with all cations in octahedral [6] coordination (51.03)
Group
Olivine group (51.03.01)
Phase type
crystalline
Crystal system
various
Crystal class
various
Crystal class symbol
various
Crystal spacegroup
various
Molar mass
140.69-351.71 g/mol
Density
3.21-4.6 g/cm3
Refringence type
unknown
Refringence sign
unknown
Diaphaneity
transparent to opaque
Luster
various