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Pyroxene

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Pyroxene
Mineral structure: Chain silicate Common mineral in Basalt, Gabbro, High-grade Metamorphic rocks (metabasic, pelite, marble) Rock-forming minerals associated with Pyroxene: Plagioclase, Olivine, Amphibole, Garnet Two varieties: Clinopyroxene (inclined extinction) and Orthopyroxene (straight extinction)

Clinopyroxene in basalt
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Key optical features of pyroxene in thin section: Colourless pale green pale brown Two cleavages intersect at 90o Moderate relief Moderate order interference colours Equant crystal shape Common minerals that might be confused with pyroxene and occur in similar rocks: Amphibole (cleavages intersect at 60o , more strongly coloured, more strongly pleochroic, inclined extinction typically with small extinction angle) Co-existing clinopyroxene and amphibole Analyser out Analyser out

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Pyroxene

Note: Brown amphibole and green pyroxene, and marginal alteration of clinopyroxene to amphibole

Pyroxene cleavage
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Note: Pyroxenes have two cleavages intersecting at 90o , most sections will show a single cleavage. Clinopyroxene (pale green) has a slightly better developed cleavage than orthopyroxene (pink) but amphibole (dark green) typically has a stronger cleavage than either. Pyroxenes undergo unmixing ( exsolution) between clino- and orthopyroxene during slow cooling from high temperatures.Thus a clinopyroxene host may contain lenses of orthopyroxene or vice-versa.

Clinopyroxene exsolution lamellae and interference colours

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Orthopyroxene exsolution lamellae and interference colours

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Note: Lower order interference colours of orthopyroxene. Colourless pyroxenes tend to be relatively Mgrich, Fe-poor end members.

Pyroxene colour and pleochroismin metabasic gneiss

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Note: Large orthopyroxene has pale pink to pale green pleochroism, and typically less well developed cleavage than clinopyroxene (pale green, slightly cloudy appearance above). Amphibole in the sample has much darker green colour, stronger pleochroism and cleavages that intersect at 120 o .

Clinopyroxene interference colours and inclined extinction

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Pyroxene

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Note: Pale green clinopyroxene showing single cleavage trace, high order interference colours and inclined extinction.

Orthopyroxene pleochroism and straight extinction

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Note: Orthopyroxene pale green-pale pink pleochroism, straight extinction and low-moderate order interference colours

Clinopyroxene shape (Zoned phenocryst in basalt)

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Late stage interstitial clinopyroxene in dolerite with plagioclase laths and olivine Analyser out Analyser in

Interstitial clinopyroxene in peridotite Analyser out Analyser in

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Note: Interstitial clinopyroxene between olivine and orthopyroxene (with exsolution lamellae) crystals Take the Pyroxene test Return to top Return to introduction

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