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olivine
[ ol-uh-veen, ol-uh-veen ]
noun
- Mineralogy. any of a group of magnesium iron silicates, (Mg,Fe) 2 SiO 4 , occurring in olive-green to gray-green masses as an important constituent of basic igneous rocks.
olivine
/ ˌɒlɪˈviːn; ˈɒlɪˌviːn /
noun
- an olive-green mineral of the olivine group, found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. The clear-green variety (peridot) is used as a gemstone. Composition: magnesium iron silicate. Formula: (MgFe) 2 SiO 4 . Crystal structure: orthorhombic Also calledchrysolite
- any mineral in the group having the general formula (Mg,Fe,Mn,Ca) 2 SiO 4
olivine
/ ŏl′ə-vēn′ /
- An olive-green to brownish-green orthorhombic mineral. Olivine is a common mineral in the igneous rocks, such as basalt and gabbro, that make up most of the Earth's crust beneath the oceans. Chemical formula: (Mg,Fe) 2 SiO 4 .
- ◆ Olivine in which the mafic component consists entirely of magnesium is called forsterite . Chemical formula: Mg 2 SiO 4 .
- ◆ Olivine in which the mafic component consists entirely of iron is called fayalite . Chemical formula: Fe 2 SiO 4 .
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Other Words From
- ol·i·vin·ic [ol-, uh, -, vin, -ik], ol·i·vin·it·ic [ol-, uh, -vi-, nit, -ik], adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of olivine1
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Example Sentences
The emerald rainstorm contains a bright green mineral of a class called olivine—also known as peridot to us Earth-dwellers.
In the more basic phases anhedrons of augite and of olivine appear, and magnetite grains are usually present.
Olivine occurs in certain of the Rainier lavas, in stout prisms somewhat rounded and often with reddened borders.
It also surrounds olivine in this same rock, which is a hypersthene-andesite, the hornblende and olivine being only accessory.
Hypersthene is not the prevailing pyroxene, and olivine is usually present, often in such abundance as to make the rock a basalt.
Pic′rīte, one of the peridotites or olivine-rocks; Picrotox′ine, a bitter poisonous principle in the seeds of Cocculus indicus.
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