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Olivine is commonly found in igneous rock deposits as a rock-forming mineral. When olivine comes into contact with pyroxene and plagioclase, it crystalizes and results in gabbro or basalt. If you wish to find olivine in nature, search for gabbro, basalt, dunite, diabase, or peridotite deposits.
Olivine is named for its typically olive-green color, thought to be a result of traces of nickel, [citation needed] though it may alter to a reddish color from the oxidation of iron. Translucent olivine is sometimes used as a gemstone called peridot (péridot, the French word for olivine).
Most olivine found at Earth's surface is in dark-colored igneous rocks. It usually crystallizes in the presence of plagioclase and pyroxene to form gabbro or basalt. These types of rocks are most common at divergent plate boundaries and at hot spots within the centers of tectonic plates.
Most olivine found at Earth’s floor is in dark-colored igneous rocks. It usually crystallizes inside the presence of plagioclase and pyroxene to form gabbro or basalt. These varieties of rocks are maximum not unusual at divergent plate limitations and at hot spots within the centers of tectonic plates.
Olivine is an abundant silicate mineral that can be found in many different rock types around the world. Here is an overview of the primary locations and geologic settings where olivine occurs naturally.
The structure of olivine can be viewed as a layered closest-packed oxygen network, with silicon ions occupying some of the tetrahedral voids and the calcium, ferrous iron, and magnesium cations occupying some of the octahedral voids (Figure 2).
Olivine occurs in mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks. It is also found in metamorphic rocks and Serpentine deposits as a primary mineral. Olivine may also occur in meteorites. Rock Type: Igneous, Metamorphic, Meteoric: Popularity (1-4) 1: Prevalence (1-3) 1: Demand (1-3) 1
To identify olivine, one can look for its green color and glassy luster. It is often found in igneous rocks such as basalt and gabbro, as well as in some metamorphic rocks. In thin sections under a microscope, olivine can be identified by its distinctive cleavage patterns and its refractive index.
Olivine is a very common silicate mineral that occurs mostly in dark-colored igneous rocks like peridotite and basalt. It is usually easily identifiable because of its bright green color and glassy luster.
Olivine on Earth. The Martian soil examined by the Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument on NASA's Curiosity rover shows the diffraction signature, or "fingerprint," of the mineral olivine, shown here on Earth in the form of tumbled crystals about a quarter-inch (several millimeters) in size.