olivine

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olivine

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

olivine , an iron-magnesium silicate mineral, (Mg,Fe) 2 SiO 4 , crystallizing in the orthorhombic system. It is a common constituent of magnesium-rich, silica-poor igneous rocks; metamorphism of some high magnesium sediments also can form olivine. Dunite consists almost entirely of olivine. It also occurs in lunar rocks and meteorites. Olivine has a characteristic yellow-green to olive-green color, hence the name. Transparent olivine of good color can be cut into gemstones; the gem form is known as peridot. Sources of gem-quality olivine are St. John's Island in the Red Sea, Myanmar, and Arizona. Magnesium-rich olivine has a high melting point and is used in the manufacture of refractories. It was formerly called chrysolite.

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olivine

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | © World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

olivine Ferromagnesian mineral, (MgFe)2 SiO4, found in basic and ultrabasic igneous rocks. Olivine has orthorhombic system crystals and is usually olive-green. It is glassy and brittle with no cleavage. Hardness 6.5–7; r.d. 3.3.

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Olivine
Magazine article from: Mining Engineering; 6/1/2001; ; 647 words ; D.A. KRAMER, US Geological Survey Olivine [(Mg,Fe)^sub 2^SiO^sub 4...significant effect on the crystal structure. Olivine occurs in deposits in volcanic rocks...found on Mars. The gemstone variety of olivine is green-yellow in color. It is known...
Olivine: an under-used raw material. (refractory material)
Magazine article from: Ceramic Industry; 12/1/1993; ; 700+ words ; Olivine is a magnesium iron silicate refractory...around the world, prindpally in Europe. Olivine is reported to constitute a major part...developed. The first-known effective use of olivine as a refractory was in Norway in the mid...
Analysis: Green mineral olivine found on Mars may hold clues to past climate on the planet
Transcript from: NPR All Things Considered; 10/24/2003; ; 700+ words ; ...10-24-2003 Analysis: Green mineral olivine found on Mars may hold clues to past climate...Surveyor spacecraft has detected the mineral olivine in the Nils Fossae region of Mars. The...planet. Hoefen's primary interest is olivine. It exists on Earth in the mantle and...
Crew Secures Industrial Partner for Seqi Olivine Project.
News Wire article from: Canadian Corporate News; 7/9/2003; 700+ words ; ...Feasibilty Study (BFS) for Crew's Seqi olivine project in Greenland. Crew will be responsible...100% of the mineral rights to the Seqi olivine deposit, located 90 km North of Greenland...early 2003. Seqi is a large, homogenous olivine deposit made up of 97% olivine. The...
Grinding methods to enhance the reactivity of olivine
Magazine article from: Minerals & Metallurgical Processing; 8/1/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...ultrafine grinding techniques to enhance olivine reactivity in mineral carbonation reactions. Activated olivine is one of several solid feed materials...Keywords: Comminution, Ultrafine grinding, Olivine reactivity, Mechanical activation, Reactivity...
Clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and olivine chemistries in ultramafic to mafic xenoliths.(Collegiate Communications--Undergraduate)
Magazine article from: Proceedings of the North Dakota Academy of Science; 4/1/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...most abundant minerals found were olivine, clinopyroxene, and orthopyroxene...revealed pyroxenes intermix with olivine. Olivines typically have high interference...Microprobe analysis was centered on olivine, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene...
Crew Gold Corporation: Seqi Olivine Project Funding Approved.
News Wire article from: Canadian Corporate News; 6/22/2004; 700+ words ; ...by the feasibility study for the Seqi Olivine project, has been approved by LKAB...including the quarrying and shipping of olivine for industrial testing abroad. The parties...and shipping commercial quantities of olivine from the Seqi quarry will be finalized...
Diamond Discoveries Provides Analysis of Selected Olivine Grains.
News Wire article from: Canadian Corporate News; 2/24/2006; 700+ words ; ...testing resulted in the recovery of 185 olivine grains. The results of the electron microprobe analyses from 60 selected olivine grains have now been received from...samples yielded abundant forsteritic olivine, but no other potentially kimberlitic...
Helen Olivine, 86 Was a volunteer in civic groups
Newspaper article from: The Boston Globe; 7/21/1991; 376 words ; Mrs. Helen Tipple (Hitchcock) Olivine, a volunteer in numerous civic organizations...Orleans. Born in Oxford, N.Y., Mrs. Olivine graduated from Cambridge High and Latin...of the Holy Spirit in Orleans, Mrs. Olivine was active in volunteer organizations...
Crew Secures Mineral Rights to Seqi Olivine Deposit in Greenland.
News Wire article from: Canadian Corporate News; 4/25/2003; 700+ words ; ...has acquired 100% of mineral rights to the Seqi olivine deposit in Southern Greenland, 90 km North of...title to Seqi, which is a large and homogenous olivine deposit with up to 97% olivine. The high grade and favourable chemical and textural...
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