Mineral phase
IMA name
Hedenbergite
Class
silicate mineral
Compound type
inosilicate
Formula
CaFe2+.[SiO3]2
Chemical formula
CaFe(2+)Si2O6
Elemental formula
Ca (Fe2+) Si2 O6
Isotope mixture type
terrestrial abundance
  Formula Name Family Number min-max Isotope mole fraction State Relevance
Ca Calcium element 1 constituent element main
Fe2+ Iron(II) cation element 1 constituent element main
Si Silicon element 2 constituent element main
O Oxygen element 6 constituent element main
Composition comments
Hedenbergite name used for Ca = 90-100%, Fe = 50-100%, Mg = 0-50%
Oxides
Formula CaO FeO SiO2
Mass fraction (%) 22.6 28.96 48.44

Strunz

Class
silicates (09)
Division
inosilicate (09.D)
Family
with 2-periodic single chains, Si2O6; pyroxene family (09.DA)
Code
09.DA.15

Dana

Major class
silicates (VIII)
Class
inosilicate single-width unbranched chains, w=1 (65)
Type
with chains P=2 (65.01)
Group
C2/c clinopyroxenes (Ca clinopyroxenes) (65.01.03a)
Code
65.01.03a.02
Phase type
crystalline
Crystal system
monoclinic
Crystal class
prismatic
Crystal class symbol
2/m (C2h)
Crystal spacegroup
C2/c
Molar mass
248.09 g/mol
Density
3.55 g/cm3
State NTP
solid
Refringence type
biaxial
Refringence sign
positive
Birefringence
0.0180 - 0.0290
Refraction index nα
1.699 - 1.739
Refraction index nβ
1.705 - 1.745
Refraction index nγ
1.728 - 1.757
Dispersion V
distinct to strong, r>v
Pure color
green
Color
brownish green, gray green, grayish black, dark green, black
Diaphaneity
transparent to opaque
Luster
vitreous