PYROXENOI

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 INOSILICATES..
Chain silicates
Single Chain Double Chain

Pyroxenes Amphiboles
Pyroxenoids

Single chain- Si:O is 1:3 ,

tetrahedra share two O2
Double chain-Si:O is 4:11
Half tetrahedra share 2 while other
half share 3 O2
Pyroxenoid is a group of silicate minerals which have
Si:O ratio of 1:3
 General Formula
Xn(SinO3n )

X= large divalent cation Ca,Mn,Fe

n= repeated cation
n increases as mean size of divalent cation decreases
 Crystal System
TRICLINIC SYSTEM
Structure..
Pyroxenoid crystal structure contains single chain of SiO 4

tetrahedron having repeating periodicities from 3 to 9.
2 of 4 Oxygen are shared between two Si+4 cations and

form single chains. Other two oxygen are bonded to
divalent cations such as Ca, Fe, Mn.
Pyroxenoid structures contain octahedrally coordinated

cations between SiO3 chains.
 While the chains of pyroxenes are straight with a repeat distance of
about 5.2 A ....
 Pyroxenoids have Kinked chains(twisted).
 They exhibit a longer repeat distance which is variable.
• The Pyroxenoids because of the lower symmetry of chains ,are
Triclinic.
• The chain structure in the Pyroxenoids is expressed by their
splintery cleavage and sometimes fibrous habits.
ANHYDROUS PYROXENOIDS
 Wollastonite (n=3)
 Bustamite(n=3)
 Rhodonite(n=5)
 Pyroxmangite(n=7)

HYDROUS PYROXENOIDS
In this series Na + H substitute for one of divalent cations.
 Pectolite
 Serandite
Extent of compositional fields for Pyroxenoids in system
CaSiO3- FeSiO3- MnSiO3 at T ~600 C and P~6Kb
All of these Pyroxenoids have extensive fields of solid solution.
Wollastonite
 Wollastonite is one of the most important mineral within pyroxenoid group. It
has been named by J. Leman in honor of William Hyde Wollaston (an English
Mineralogist).
 Formula : CaSiO3
 Physical Properties
 Colorless, white or grey in color ,white streak
 Lustre- vitreous to pearly.
 Hardness is 5 to 5.5
 Crystal habit: lamellar, radiating, fibrous aggregates
 Density:2.86-3.09
 Perfect cleavage.
 Uneven fracture
 Diagnostic feature: characterised by its two
perfect cleavages of 84.
 Optical Properties:
• Biaxial negative
• Relief- Moderate positive
• Habit- bladed/fibrous
• Non pleochroic
• Shows parallel extinction
 Structure
Wollastonite occurs in three structural
Varieties: wollastonite-Tc ,Wollastonite-2M
And pseudowollastonite all are constructed
Of tetrahedral chains with a repeat distance
of 3 tetrahedra
Composition
 For pure CasiO3,
CaO : 48.3% and SiO2: 51.7%
 Para wollastonite is a low T form while Pseudowollastonite is a high
T form.
 Alteration: Pectolite, Calcite or other Ca rich minerals may replace
wollastonite
 Wollastonite occurs chiefly as a contact metamorphic mineral in
crystalline limestone. Its associated with calcite diopside,tremolite and
epidote.
 Rhodonite..
 Formula: MnSiO3
 Commonly occurs as cleavable to
compact masses with a rose red color.
 The name comes from Greek word rhodos,
meaning rosy.
 Luster: vitreous
 Hardness: 5.5- 6
 Perfect cleavage
 In thin section rhodonite is pink to liliac in colour,
Shows weak pleochroism and is biaxial positive mineral
 Diagnostic feature is pink color, sharp acicular
fragments and two directions of perfect cleavage.
 Zn varieties are known as FOWLERITE.
 Pyroxmangite (Mn,Fe)SiO3 is structurally similar to
Rhodonite but with a unit repeat of seven tetrahedra in SiO3
chain.
 Pyroxferroite (Fe,Ca)SiO3is isostructural with
Pyroxmangite and is common in lunar lavas.
 Bustamite(Mn,Ca,Fe)SiO3has similar structure to
Wollastonite.
 Pectolite..
 Formula : NaCa2Si3O8(OH)
 White to gray mineral
 Hardness: 4.5 to 5
 Luster: silky
 Crystal habit: spheroidal, columnar
 Biaxial (+)
 Diagnostic feature: characterised by

two directions of perfect cleavage, yielding sharp,

acicular fragments
 Gemstone variety: Larimar(sky blue in color)
 COMPOSITION:

CaO:33.8% , SiO2: 54.2%

Na2O: 9.3% , H2O: 2.7%
Serandite...
 Formula: Na(Mn,Ca)2Si3O8OH
 Salmon pink to orange
 Vitreous to greasy luster
 White streak
 Hardness :5 to 5.5
 Biaxial (+)
Crystals of minerals can be prismatic
Acicular and elongated.
Its manganese analogue of Pectolite.
Occurrences...
Wollastonite: wollastonite occurs as a contact
metamorphic mineral in metamorphosed Si rich
limestones, and forms by reaction:
CaCO3+SiO2= CaSiO3+CO2
Bustamite: In Mn ores by metamorphism of Mn bearing
sediments.
Pyroxferroite: Gabbroic rocks
Pyroxmangite: in metamorphosed ore deposits rich in
Manganese.
• Rhodonite: Hydrothermal, metamorphic and
metasomatic rocks. Occurs in Mn deposits & Mn
rich Fe formations. It may form Rhodochrosite by
this reaction:
MnCO3 + SiO2=MnSiO3 +CO2
• Pectolite: occurs as a primary mineral in
Nepheline syenites, within hydrothermal cavities
in Basalts and Diabase and Serpentinites.
• Serandite: occurs in Mn rich deposits associated
with volcanic rocks and terrigeneous sediments
that have been altered by contact metamorphism.
 USES...
Wollastonite is an industrially important mineral. Its
necessary ingredient in heat resistant refractory
ceramics and used as a filter in paint. Also used in
manufacture of tile. other uses are in asbestos cement
products, as filler in insecticide industry and as coating
material for welding rods.
Rhodonite is polished for use as an ornamental stone,
also used to impart violet color to glass. mixing it with
common salt-glazing, a black or deep blue glaze is
formed.
Serandite is used as a gemstone.
PYROXENES and
PYROXENOIDS
 Similarities
 Both are single chained Inosilicates
 Si:O ratio is 1:3
 Both contain octhahedrally coordinated cations between SiO 3 chains.

 Differences
 Pyroxenes have straight chain while the chains of pyroxenoids are kinked.
 Repeat distance in pyroxenes is fixed( 5.2 A) while it varies in pyroxenoids.
 Pyroxenes crystallise in Orthorhombic and Monclinic system while pyroxenoids

due to lower symmetry crystallise in Triclinic system .

 Examples:
Augite,Diopside,Jadeite and Spodumene are pyroxenes.
Wollastonite, rhodonite,pectolite and Serandite are pyroxenoids.
PYROXENE PYROXENOID
Presented by-
Akshi Goel
421AG2007