Mineralpedia Details for Diopside

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Diopside

Named for the Greek dyo, from which the prefix di- gets its origin to represent “two,” and opsi, meaning “face,” in reference to the two possible orientations of the vertical prism. Diopside is a relatively common mineral that can be found of fine quality in localities in Austria, Italy, Finland, Russia, Canada, the United States, Madagascar, China, Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan, among many other general localities. It occurs commonly in skarn, calcium and magnesium rich gneiss and schist, kimberlites, and peridotites and is typical of metamorphosed silicious calcium and magnesium rich rocks in the pyroxene-hornfels and epidote-amphibolite facies. Less commonly, Diopside can be found in alkaline olivine basalt and andesite.

Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/diopside.pdf

Formula: CaMgSi₂O₆
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Crystal Habit: Prismatic, Blocky, Granular
Cleavage: Good, Indistinct, None
Luster: Vitreous (Glassy)
Color: blue, brown, colorless, green, gray
Streak: white green
Class: Monoclinic - Prismatic
Fracture: Brittle - Conchoidal
Hardness: 6
WebMineral: View Diopside
Mindat: View Diopside

Diopside from Azrat Syed, Kokcha Valley, Badakhshan, Afghanistan

A single, deep green, translucent, terminated crystal to 1.3cm with the typical vitreous luster in which a lot of Dioside seems to have.

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Diopside from Outokumpu, Finland

Deep, rich green prismatic chromian Diopside crystals to 2cm, terminated on the front side and longer crystals showing on the back side. Excellent showy specimen.

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Diopside from Sterling Hill mine, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey, United States

Once called zinc Schefferite, later redescribed and found to be just a variety of Diopside with a platy reddish color and habit. Also Rhodonite and Andradite in this matreix.

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Diopside from Betroka dist., Anosy, Tuléar prov., Madagascar

An excellent well-formed crystal showing good green color. Ex. Karl & Anne Vossbrinck collection (see prov. tab).

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Diopside from Rossie, St. Lawrence Co., New York, United States

Dioside is a common rock-forming mineral and is usually found in matrix as smaller 1cm or less crystals. This specimen however, is collector quality. It is a single doubly terminated crystal with excellent shape and terminations.

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Diopside from Ilmeny Mts., South Urals, Russia

Large light green Diopside crystals to 2cm embedded in skarn-type rock matrix with likely white Tremolite. By rocking the specimen back-and-forth, the Diospide crystals are easily seen.