Pigeonite Mineral Data

Pigeonite Mineral Data +

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General Pigeonite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Mg,Fe++,Ca)(Mg,Fe++)Si2O6

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 219.70 gm

Calcium 1.82 % Ca 2.55 % CaO

Magnesium 14.93 % Mg 24.77 % MgO

Iron 13.98 % Fe 17.99 % FeO

Silicon 25.57 % Si 54.70 % SiO₂

Oxygen 43.69 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 100.00 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Mg_1.35Fe²⁺_0.55Ca_0.1Si₂O₆

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1900

Locality:

Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Synonym:

ICSD 15197

PDF 13-421

Pigeonite Image

Images:

Pigeonite

Comments: Dark green prismatic pigeonite crystals in matrix.
Location: Belmont Quarry, Louden County, Virginia, USA. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Pigeonite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =1.0844:1:0.5861

Cell Dimensions:

a = 9.706, b = 8.95, c = 5.246, Z = 4; beta = 108.59° V = 431.94 Den(Calc)= 3.38

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: P 2₁/c

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.9(1), 3.02(1), 3.21(0.8),

Crystal Structure:

Mouse
drag1 - LMB Manipulate Structure
drag2 - RMB Resize/Rotate
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H - Help Screen
I - Data Info
A - Atoms On/Off
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Morimoto N , Guven N , American Mineralogist , 55 (1970) p.1195-1209, Refinement of the crystal structure of pigeonite

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Pigeonite
[1] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [2] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [3] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [4] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [5] [50] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Physical Properties of Pigeonite

Cleavage:

[110] Good

Color:

Brown, Greenish brown, Light purple brown, Black.

Density:

3.3 - 3.46, Average = 3.38

Diaphaniety:

Translucent to Subopaque

Fracture:

Brittle - Conchoidal - Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.

Hardness:

6 - Orthoclase

Luster:

Vitreous - Dull

Streak:

gray white

Optical Properties of Pigeonite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.039 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.039 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2104,KPDmeas= 0.2104,KC= 0.2025

Optical Data:

Biaxial (+), a=1.683-1.722, b=1.684-1.722, g=1.704-1.752, bire=0.0210-0.0300, 2V(Calc)=0-26, 2V(Meas)=0-32. Dispersion weak to distinct, r < v.

Pleochroism (x):

colorless, faint pink, pink, or pale greenish brown.

Pleochroism (y):

colorless, faint pink, brownish pink, or pale greenish brown.

Pleochroism (z):

colorless, faint green, pale green, or pale reddish brown.

Calculated Properties of Pigeonite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.34 gm/cc
note: r_Pigeonite=3.38 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.03007
Boson Index = 0.96993

Photoelectric:

PE_Pigeonite= 5.66 barns/electron
U=PE_Pigeonite x r_electron= 18.89 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Pigeonite is Not Radioactive

Pigeonite Classification

Dana Class:

65.1.1.4 (65)Inosilicate Single-Width Unbranched Chains, W=1

(65.1)with chains P=2

(65.1.1)P2/c clinopyroxenes

65.1.1.1 Clinoenstatite Mg2Si2O6 P 2₁/c 2/m

65.1.1.2 Clinoferrosilite (Fe,Mg)2Si2O6 P 2₁/c 2/m

65.1.1.3 Kanoite (Mn,Mg)2Si2O6 P 2₁/c 2/m

65.1.1.4 Pigeonite (Mg,Fe,Ca)(Mg,Fe)Si2O6 P 2₁/c 2/m

Strunz Class:

VIII/F.01-40 VIII - Silicates

VIII/F - Inosilicates (chain and band) double chains [Si2O6]4-

VIII/F.01 - Pyroxene group, Clinopyroxene

VIII/F.01-10 Clinoenstatite Mg2Si2O6 P 2₁/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-20 Clinoferrosilite (Fe,Mg)2Si2O6 P 2₁/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-30 Kanoite (Mn,Mg)2Si2O6 P 2₁/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-40 Pigeonite (Mg,Fe,Ca)(Mg,Fe)Si2O6 P 2₁/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-50 Diopside CaMgSi2O6 C 2/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-60 Hedenbergite CaFeSi2O6 C 2/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-70 Johannsenite CaMnSi2O6 C 2/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-80 Petedunnite Ca(Zn,Mn,Fe,Mg)Si2O6 C 2/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-90 Augite (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al,Ti)(Si,Al)2O6 C 2/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-100 Omphacite (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al)Si2O6 P 2/n 2/m

VIII/F.01-110 Esseneite CaFeAlSiO6 C 2/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-120 Spodumene LiAlSi2O6 C 2/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-130 Jadeite Na(Al,Fe)Si2O6 C 2/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-140 Aegirine NaFeSi2O6 C 2/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-145 Namansilite NaMn(Si2O6) C 2/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-150 Jervisite (Na,Ca,Fe)(Sc,Mg,Fe)Si2O6 C 2/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-160 Natalyite Na(V,Cr)Si2O6 C 2/c 2/m

VIII/F.01-170 Kosmochlor NaCrSi2O6 C 2/c 2/m

Other Pigeonite Information

References:

PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Heinrich65)

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Pigeonite

(Mg,Fe++,Ca)(Mg,Fe++)Si2O6
Dana No: 65.1.1.4 Strunz No: VIII/F.01-40
Locality:

Notes: