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Diopside (Photo) [abbr. Di ]
Year of discovery: 1806 (World), 1904 (Japan)
Locality list: 658 localities of diopside
- CaMgSi2O6
- [Ca2+][Mg2+][(SiO3)2]4-
- Ca/(Mg+Fe+Ca)=0.45-0.5
- Color: White, Pale green
- Streak: White
- Luster: Vitreous
- Diaphaneity: Transparent-Opaque
- Cleavage: Perfect on {110} (2 planes, 90 degree), Parting on {100} (1 plane)
- Hardness: 5.5-6.5
- Density: 3.3
- System: Monoclinic
- Group: 2/m, C2/c
- Lattice: a=9.7, b=8.9, c=5.3, β=105.8
Etymology: Diaopsomai (well transparent) in Greek
Synonym: Alalite, Baikalite, Canaanite, Fedorovite, Lavroffite, Lavrovite, Leucaugite