Physical Properties |
|
| Chemical formula | CaMgSi2O6 |
| Class | Inosilicate Double chains of linked tetrahedra |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Habit | Prismatic Massive Finely disseminated |
| Color | Light green Variable |
| Hardness | 5.5 to 6.5 |
| Specific gravity | 3.2 to 3.5 |
| Cleavage | Two perfect prismatic {1101} |
| Fracture | Uneven |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Transparency | Transparent to translucent |
| Streak | White Gray |
Optical Properties |
|
| PPL | Colorless if Fe-free Non-pleochroic if Fe-free Green if Fe Brown if Fe Pleochroic if Fe |
| XPL | 3rd order colors Prismatic or blocky grains |
| δ | 0.030 |
| Twinning | Polysynthetic are common |
| Extinction | Inclined |
| after Perkins, 327 |
Diopside in Hand Sample
Diopside
Green diopside with red and white calcite
Diopside in Thin Section
Thin Section GigaPans
Diopside in plane polars
Diopside in crossed polars
