Hedenbergite
CaFeSi₂O₆

     Hedenbergite, a member of the pyroxene group, is rare at MSH. It is difficult to distinguish visually from the other members of the pyroxene group.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is usually colorless to pale yellow.
Luster is vitreous to resinous.
Diaphaneity is transparent.
Crystal System is monoclinic; C2/c.
Crystal Habits include radiating prismatic crystals to 3mm.
Cleavage {110} is distinct and {010} is imperfect.
Fracture is uneven to conchoidal.
Hardness is 6.
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.6 g/cm³.
Streak is white to grayish-white.
Associated Minerals include albite, calcite and microcline.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit.
Origin: Named in 1819 after M.A. Ludwig Hedenberg, Swedish
   chemist and coworker of Berzelius, who analyzed and described
   the mineral.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:314 (1990), Dana 8:1298-1299 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

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