CaMgSi₂O₆

Diopside, a member of the pyroxene group, is quite rare at MSH.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Color is usually pale green; pale pink on the tabular crystals.
Luster is vitreous.
Diaphaneity is transparent to opaque.
Crystal System is monoclinic; C2/c.
Crystal Habits include masses of small prisms and tabular
crystals to 5mm.
Cleavage {110} is distinct and {010} is imperfect.
Fracture is uneven to conchoidal.
Hardness is 5.5 – 6.5
Specific Gravity is approximately 3.3 g/cm³.
Streak is white to greyish-white.
Associated Minerals include arfvedsonite, calcite and pectolite.
Distinguishing Features: Crystal habit and color.
Origin: Named in 1800 from the Greek dis, double, plus opsis, view,
because two views can be taken of its prismatic form.

CLASSIFICATION:

REFERENCES:
MinRec 21:305 (1990), Dana 8:1296-1298 (1997)

DISTRIBUTION AND RARITY AT MONT SAINT-HILAIRE:

MSH     PE     AP     MX     SS     MC     HF     BR     SX     FR
¤¤¤       —       —       ¤¤       —       —        ¤¤      —         —       — 

Legend