Constituent
Name
pyroxenes
IMA name
Pyroxene group
Class
silicate mineral
Compound type
inosilicate
Relevance
main - major
Arrangement
homogeneous in multi-phases
Formula
$AB.[(Si,Al)O_3]_2 \ \ \ \ \ $ where $A = Ca, Na, Fe^{2+}$ and/or $Mg$ and sometimes $Zn, Mn^{2+}, Li \ \ \ $ and $B = Al, Fe^{3+}, Mg, Mn^{3+}, Cr, Sc, Ti, V^{3+}$ and/or $Fe^{2+}$
Chemical formula
(Ca,Na,Fe2+,Mg,Zn,Mn2+,Li)(Al,Fe3+,Mg,Mn3+,Cr,Ti,Sc,V3+,Fe2+)(Si,Al)2O6
Elemental formula
(Ca)0-1 (Na)0-1 (Mg)0-2 (Fe2+)0-2 (Fe3+)0-1 (Mn2+)0-1 (Mn3+)0-1 (Al)0-1 (Zn)0-1 (Li)0-1 (Cr3+)0-1 (Ti)0-0.5 (V3+)0-1 (Sc)0-1 (Si)1-2 O6
Isotope mixture type
terrestrial abundance
  Formula Name Family Number min-max Isotope mole fraction State Relevance
$Ca$ Calcium element 0 - 1 constituent element main
$Na$ Sodium element 0 - 1 constituent element main
$Mg$ Magnesium element 0 - 2 constituent element main
$Fe^{2+}$ Iron(II) cation element 0 - 2 constituent element main
$Fe^{3+}$ Iron(III) cation element 0 - 1 constituent element main
$Mn^{2+}$ Manganese(II) cation element 0 - 1 constituent element main
$Mn^{3+}$ Manganese(III) cation element 0 - 1 constituent element main
$Al$ Aluminium element 0 - 1 constituent element main
$Zn$ Zinc element 0 - 1 constituent element main
$Li$ Lithium element 0 - 1 constituent element main
$Cr^{3+}$ Chromium(III) cation element 0 - 1 constituent element main
$Ti$ Titanium element 0 - 0.5 constituent element main
$V^{3+}$ Vanadium(III) cation element 0 - 1 constituent element main
$Sc$ Scandium element 0 - 1 constituent element main
$Si$ Silicon element 1 - 2 constituent element main
$O$ Oxygen element 6 constituent element main
Oxides
Formula $CaO$ $Na_{2}O$ $MgO$ $FeO$ $Fe_{2}O_{3}$ $MnO$ $Mn_{2}O_{3}$ $Al_{2}O_{3}$ $ZnO$ $Li_{2}O$ $Cr_{2}O_{3}$ $TiO_{2}$ $V_{2}O_{3}$ $Sc_{2}O_{3}$ $SiO_{2}$
Mass fraction (%)

Strunz

Class
silicates (09)
Division
inosilicate (09.D)
Family
with 2-periodic single chains, Si2O6; pyroxene family (09.DA)

Dana

Major class
silicates (VIII)
Class
inosilicate single-width unbranched chains, w=1 (65)
Type
with chains P=2 (65.01)
Group
N/A (N/A)
Phase type
crystalline
Crystal system
various
Crystal class
various
Crystal class symbol
various
Crystal spacegroup
various
Texture
polycrystalline
Molar mass
186.09 - 248.09 $g/mol$
Density
3.1-4.07 $g/cm^3$
Refringence type
biaxial
Refringence sign
positive or negative
Color
various
Diaphaneity
various
Luster
various