Olivine - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Olivine (or chrysolite) is a silicate mineral made of magnesium iron silicate with the formula (Mg,Fe)
2Si O
4.

It ranges in colour from chartreuse green to pale olive. In its gem form, it is called peridot.

Dunite contains (or has) over 90%+ olivine in it. Dunite and other peridotite rocks are major constituents of the Earth's mantle above a depth of about 400 kilometers. Dunite is rarely found on land, except where slabs of mantle rock from a subduction zone have been thrust onto continental crust. Olivine has also been found at several extraterrestrial locations, such as the moon and many passing space rocks - as well as the outer layers of dust orbiting young stars.

Chrysolite should not be confused with chrysotile, which is a form of asbestos.

Light green olivine crystals in peridotite xenoliths in basalt from Arizona
Olivine basalt from the Moon, collected in 1971 by the crew of Apollo 15
Bright green olivine from Pakistan
Olivine in lava from the Azores
Olivine in cross-polarized light

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