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pyroxene
[ pahy-rok-seen, puh-, pahy-rok-seen ]
noun
- any of a very common group of minerals of many varieties, silicates of magnesium, iron, calcium, and other elements, occurring as important constituents of many kinds of rocks, especially basic igneous rocks.
pyroxene
/ ˌpaɪrɒkˈsɛnɪk; paɪˈrɒksiːn /
noun
- any of a group of silicate minerals having the general formula ABSi 2 O 6 , where A is usually calcium, sodium, magnesium, or iron, and B is usually magnesium, iron, chromium, manganese, or aluminium. Pyroxenes occur in basic igneous rocks and some metamorphic rocks, and have colours ranging from white to dark green or black. They may be monoclinic (clinopyroxenes) or orthorhombic (orthopyroxenes) in crystal structure. Examples are augite (the most important pyroxene), diopside, enstatite, hypersthene, and jadeite
pyroxene
/ pī-rŏk′sēn′ /
- Any of a series of dark silicate minerals having the general chemical formula ABSi 2 O 6 , where A is either calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), or iron (Fe), and B is either magnesium, iron, chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), or aluminum (Al). Pyroxenes vary in color from white to dark green or black and are characterized by a rectangular-shaped cross section. They can be either monoclinic or orthorhombic and occur in igneous and metamorphic rocks. The minerals enstatite, diopside, and augite are pyroxenes.
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Derived Forms
- pyroxenic, adjective
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Other Words From
- py·rox·en·ic [pahy-rok-, sen, -ik], adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of pyroxene1
C19: pyro- + -xene from Greek xenos foreign, because it was mistakenly thought to have originated elsewhere when found in igneous rocks
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Example Sentences
Hypersthene is not the prevailing pyroxene, and olivine is usually present, often in such abundance as to make the rock a basalt.
From Project Gutenberg
Rougemonite consists largely of anorthite with pyroxene as the only important ferro-magnesian constituent.
From Project Gutenberg
The third is less easily recognized as pyroxene, another of the many minerals containing iron.
From Project Gutenberg
The pyroxene in particular is very much changed, and quickly crumbles away in the hand.
From Project Gutenberg
Pyroxene is most abundantly represented as crystals in many kinds of igneous and metamorphic rocks.
From Project Gutenberg
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