Bronzite

Bronzite

Bronzite is a member of the orthopyroxene group of minerals, belonging with enstatite and hypersthene to the orthorhombic series of the group. Rather than a distinct species, it is really a ferriferous variety of enstatite, which owing to partial alteration has acquired a bronze-like sub-metallic luster on the cleavage surfaces.Encyclopedia Britannica, 1911]

Enstatite is magnesium silicate, MgSiO3, with the magnesium partly replaced by small amounts (up to about 12%) of Fe+2. In the bronzite variety, (Mg,Fe)SiO3, the iron(II) oxide ranges from about 12 to 30%, and with still more iron there is a passage to hypersthene.Klein, Cornelis and Cornelius Hurlbut, Jr. (1985) "Manual of Mineralogy," Wiley, 20th ed., ISBN 0-471-80580-7] The ferriferous varieties are liable to a particular kind of alteration, known as schillerization, which results in the separation of the iron as very fine films of oxide and hydroxides along the cleavage cracks of the mineral. The cleavage surfaces therefore exhibit a metallic sheen or schiller, which is even more pronounced in hypersthene than in bronzite. The color of bronzite is green or brown; its specific gravity is about 3.3–3.4, varying with the amount of iron present. The refractive indices and optic angle increase with iron content. The enstatite endmember has a positive optic sign, whereas bronzite and hypersthene both show a negative optic sign.

Like enstatite, bronzite is a constituent of many mafic to ultramafic igneous rocks, such as, norite, gabbro, and especially peridotite, and of the serpentines which have been derived from them. It also occurs in some crystalline schist. Pyroxenites of bronzite composition (bronzitites) are noted in the cumulate rocks of the Stillwater igneous complex of Montana. [Jackson, Everett D., "The Chromite Deposits of the Stillwater Complex, Montana" in "Ore Deposites of the Unitrd States, 1933-1967 (The Graton-Sales Volume)" Vol. 2, pp. 1495-1509, 1968]

Ornamental usage

Bronzite is sometimes cut and polished, usually in convex forms, for small ornamental objects, but its use for this purpose is less extensive than that of hypersthene. It often has a more-or-less distinct fibrous structure, and when this is pronounced the sheen has a certain resemblance to that of cats-eye. Masses sufficiently large for cutting are found in the norite of the Kupferberg in the Fichtelgebirge, and in the serpentine of Kraubat near Leoben in Styria. In this connection mention may be made of an altered form of enstatite or bronzite known as "bastite" or "schiller spar". Here, in addition to schillerization, the original enstatite has been altered by hydration and the product has the approximate composition of serpentine. In color bastite is brown or green with the same metallic sheen as bronzite. The typical locality is Baste in the Radauthal, Harz, where patches of pale greyish-green bastite are embedded in a darker-colored serpentine. This rock when cut and polished makes an effective decorative stone, although little used for that purpose.

References

*1911


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bronzite — Bronz ite, n. [Cf. F. bronzite.] (Min.) A variety of enstatite, often having a bronzelike luster. It is a silicate of magnesia and iron, of the pyroxene family. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bronzite — ● bronzite nom féminin Pyroxène orthorhombique riche en magnésium …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Bronzite — Enstatite[1] Catégorie IX : silicates[2] …   Wikipédia en Français

  • bronzite — bronzitas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Mineralas. formulė (Mg,Fe)₂[Si₂O₆] atitikmenys: angl. bronzite rus. бронзит …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • bronzite — /bron zuyt/, n. a greenish brown or black mineral with a bronzelike luster, an orthorhombic pyroxene, (Mg,Fe)2(Si2O6), intermediate in composition between enstatite and hypersthene. [1810 20; BRONZE + ITE1; so called from its sheen] * * * …   Universalium

  • bronzite — bronz·ite …   English syllables

  • bronzite — ˈbränˌzīt noun ( s) Etymology: German bronzit, from bronze (from French) + it ite more at bronze : a mineral consisting of a ferriferous variety of enstatite often having a luster like that of bronze …   Useful english dictionary

  • Enstatite — Infobox mineral name = Enstatite category = Silicate mineral boxwidth = boxbgcolor = imagesize = caption = formula = Mg2Si2O6 molweight = color = White, grey, green, yellow or brown colorless in thin section. habit = Lamellar, fibrous, or massive …   Wikipedia

  • H chondrite — The H type ordinary chondrites are the most common type of meteorite, accounting for approximately 40% of all those catalogued, 46% of the ordinary chondrites, and 44% of the chondrites1. The name comes from their (H)igh iron abundance, with… …   Wikipedia

  • Hypersthene — is a common rock forming inosilicate mineral belonging to the group of orthorhombic pyroxenes. Many references have formally abandoned this term, preferring to categorise this mineral as enstatite or ferrosilite. It is found in igneous and some… …   Wikipedia

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