mineral
Olivine (Peridotite / Dunite Pebble)
(Mg,Fe)2SiO4 (Magnesium Iron Silicate)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Olive-green to yellowish-green with a frosted, water-worn surface. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic. Specific Gravity: 3.2-4.4.
- Hardness
- 6
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Olive-green to yellowish-green with a frosted, water-worn surface. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic. Specific Gravity: 3.2-4.4.
Formation & geological history
Formed in ultramafic igneous rocks such as dunite, peridotite, and basalt within Earth's mantle, then exposed at the surface and tumbled smooth by river or beach erosion.
Uses & applications
Used as a gemstone (Peridot) when gem-quality, as a refractory material in metallurgy, for CO2 sequestration studies, and for lapidary collection.
Geological facts
Olivine is one of the primary components of the Earth's upper mantle and is also found in stony meteorites (pallasites) and on the surface of the Moon and Mars.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinctive olive-green color, grainy granular texture, and glass-like hardness. Common in basaltic beach sands (like Green Sand Beach in Hawaii) and volcanic areas.
