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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

• Class: Ca-Mg-Fe pyroxene group < Pyroxene supergroup
• Class: Inosilicate (Single chain)
• Variety: Diallage
• Variety: Salite (+Fe)
• Variety: Violan (+Mn, Purple)
• Variety: Malacolite, Mussite, (Parting on {001})
• Insoluble in: HCl
• Fluorescence: Short UV excitation (Blue-White)
• Substitution pseudomorph: Replaced by Zincsilite.

• Ca/(Mg+Fe+Ca) < 0.45: Augite
• Ca/(Mg+Fe+Ca) > 0.5: Wollastonite

• Mg => Fe: Hedenbergite (Series)
• Mg => Mn: Johannsenite (Series)
• Mg => Zn: Petedunnite

• Color: White, Pale green
• Streak: White
• Luster: Vitreous
• Diaphaneity: Transparent-Opaque

• Habit: Tabular

• 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