mineral
Olivine
(Mg,Fe)2SiO4
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale, olive-green color, vitreous luster, orthorhombic crystal system, and conchoidal fracture.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale, olive-green color, vitreous luster, orthorhombic crystal system, and conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Forms in high-temperature igneous environments like mafic and ultramafic magmas, and is a primary component of Earth's upper mantle.
Uses & applications
Used in foundry sands, as a refractory material, in metal production, and occasionally as the gemstone peridot.
Geological facts
Olivine is one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's upper mantle and has also been found in lunar basalts and meteorites.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its characteristic olive-green color and granular habit, commonly found in basaltic lavas and peridotite xenoliths.
