5 Questions
Which type of symmetry do minerals in the olivine group crystallize with?
Orthorhombic symmetry
What type of coordination do the divalent atoms have in the structures of olivine group minerals?
Six-fold coordination
In the idealized olivine silicate structure, with what do the Si atoms share oxygen?
Adjacent octahedra
Where are half of the divalent cations located in the olivine silicate structure?
At the centres of symmetry (M1 sites)
Which ions are either absent or present in very small amounts in the structures of olivine group minerals?
Trivalent ions Al and Fe3+
Study Notes
Olivine Group Minerals
- Minerals in the olivine group crystallize with orthorhombic symmetry.
- Divalent atoms in olivine group minerals have octahedral coordination in their structures.
- In the idealized olivine silicate structure, Si atoms share oxygen with divalent cations.
- Half of the divalent cations are located in octahedral sites in the olivine silicate structure.
- Alkali ions (e.g. Na+, K+) are either absent or present in very small amounts in the structures of olivine group minerals.
Test your knowledge of the Nesosilicates Olivine Group with this quiz. Explore the unique crystalline structures and composition of minerals in this group, including the arrangement of SiO4 tetrahedra and the coordination of divalent atoms. Challenge yourself with questions on the distinctive properties and characteristics of these orthorhombic minerals.
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