Fayalite
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Description
A transparent green iron silicate mineral that occurs naturally as an iron-rich variety of Olivine. Fayalite was named after Fayal, an island in the Azores. The brittle green stone is also produced synthetically as a common component in slag stringers from ancient iron working furnaces.
Synonyms and Related Terms
olivine; faialite (Port.); Fayalit (Deut.); fayaliet (Ned.)
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Crystal system = orthorhombic
- Color = green to pale yellow
- Fracture = conchoidal to uneven.
- Luster = vitreous.
- Streak = colorless.
| Composition | Fe2SiO4 |
|---|---|
| Mohs Hardness | 6.5 - 7.0 |
| Density | 4.4 g/ml |
| Refractive Index | 1.83; 1.87; 1.88 |
Resources and Citations
- Mineralogy Database: Fayalite
- David C. Scott, Metallography and Microstructure of Ancient and Historic Metals, The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, 1991
- C.W.Chesterman, K.E.Lowe, Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Rocks and Minerals, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1979
- Thomas Gregory, The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Reinhold Publishing, New York, 3rd ed., 1942
- Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "fayalite." Accessed 12 Nov. 2004
- Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayalite (Accessed Sept. 7, 2005)