Known in ancient times and some smaragdus and beryllos (Pliny, 79) may have been what is now called forsterite. (N.B. The "chrysolithas" of Pliny (79) is believed to be topaz.) The earliest name given to an undisputed olivine group species was chrysolit (chrysolite) and was named by Johan Gottschalk Wallerius in 1747, although the name chrysolite was later used by Balthasar Georges Sage in 1777 for what is now known as prehnite. In 1755, Antoine Joseph Dezallier d'Argenville called this species "peridot ordinaire", while Axel Cronstedt named it "gulgron topas" in 1758. In 1772, Romé de L'Isle renamed the mineral "chrysolite ordinaire". Wallerius's chrysolite was renamed olivine in 1789 by Abraham Gottlob Werner for the usual olive green color of this mineral (N.B. chrysolite has a similar etymology.) Friedrich Walchner in 1823 gave it the name "hyalosiderite". The common Mg-dominant member of the group was renamed forsterite by Serve-Dieu Abailard "Armand" Lévy in 1824. Boltonite was introduced in 1835 by Charles Upham Shepard, while glinkit was named in 1847 by Romanovski. Olivine continued to be used, as either a species, a series, or as a group, for over a century afterward.

French name for:

Olivine Group

English synonym of:

Olivine Group

Commonly used as a synonym for a member of the Fayalite-Forsterite Series, but more generally and properly applied to any olivine group member. The vast majority is forsterite.

May contain some PO₄ replacing SiO₄ (Schneider et al., 2013).

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Olivine.

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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

2983 (as Olivine)
29264 (as Olivine Group)

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:2983:0 (as Olivine)
mindat:1:1:29264:3 (as Olivine Group)

Pronunciation of OlivineHide

Pronunciation:

Play	Recorded by	Country
	Jolyon Ralph	United Kingdom

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References for OlivineHide

Reference List:

Salmon, H. C. (1859) On Rocks; Their Chemical and Mineral Composition, and Physical Characteristics. The Geologist, 2 (6) 221-240 doi:10.1017/s1359465600020852p.228

Bragg, W.L. and Brown, G.B. (1926) Zeitschrift für Kristallografie: 63: 538.

Hawkes, H. E. (1946) Olivine from northern California showing perfect cleavage. American Mineralogist, 31 (5-6) 276-283

Sahama, Th. G., Hytonen, Kai (1958) Calcium-bearing magnesium-iron olivines. American Mineralogist, 43 (9-10) 862-871

Duke, David A., Stephens, James D. (1964) Infrared investigation of the olivine group minerals. American Mineralogist, 49 (9-10) 1388-1406

Matsui, Yoshito, Syono, Yasuhiko (1968) Unit cell dimensions of some synthetic olivine group solid solutions. GEOCHEMICAL JOURNAL, 2 (1) 51-59 doi:10.2343/geochemj.2.51

Birle, J. D., Gibbs, G. V., Moore, P. B., Smith, J. V. (1968) Crystal structures of natural olivines. American Mineralogist, 53 (5-6) 807-824

Olsen, Edward J., Grossman, Lawrence (1974) A scanning electron microscope study of olivine crystal surfaces. Meteoritics, 9 (3). 243-254 doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.1974.tb00080.x

Lager, George A., Meagher, E. P. (1978) High-temperature structural study of six olivines. American Mineralogist, 63 (3-4) 365-377

Brown, G.E. (1982) Olivines and silicate spinels. In P.H. Ribbe, Ed., Orthosilicates, 5, p. 275-381. Reviews in Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America, Chantilly, Virginia.

Beran, A., Putnis, A. (1983) A model of the OH positions in olivine, derived from infrared-spectroscopic investigations. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 9 (2) 57-60 doi:10.1007/bf00308148

Ricoult, D.L., and D.L. Kohlstedt (1985) Experimental evidence for the effect of chemical environment upon the creep rate of olivine. In R.N. Schick, Ed., Point defects Minerals, Geophysical Monograph, 31: 171-184. American Geophysical Union, Washington, D.C.

Miller, Gregory H., Rossman, George R., Harlow, George E. (1987) The natural occurrence of hydroxide in olivine. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 14 (5) 461-472 doi:10.1007/bf00628824

Kitamura, Masao, Kondoh, Shinji, Morimoto, Nobuo, Miller, Gregory H., Rossman, George R., Putnis, Andrew (1987) Planar OH-bearing defects in mantle olivine. Nature, 328 (6126). 143-145 doi:10.1038/328143a0

Karato, S. (1989) Grain growth kinetics in olivine aggregates. Tectonophysics, 168 (4) 255-273 doi:10.1016/0040-1951(89)90221-7

Kurosawa, M., Yurimoto, H., Matsumoto, K., Sueno, S. (1992) Hydrogen analysis of mantle olivine by secondary ion mass spectrometry. In High-Pressure Research: Application to Earth and Planetary Sciences - Geophysical Monograph No. 67. American Geophysical Union. p.283-287.

Bai, Quan; Kohlstedt, D.L. (1993) Effects of chemical environment on the solubility and incorporation mechanism for hydrogen in olivine. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 19 (7). p.460-471. doi:10.1007/bf00203186

Morishima, H., Kato, T., Suto, M., Ohtani, E., Urakawa, S., Utsumi, W., Shimomura, O., Kikegawa, T. (1994) The phase boundary between α- and β-Mg₂SiO₄ determined by in situ X-ray observation. Science, 265 (5176). 1202-1203 doi:10.1126/science.265.5176.1202

Pilati, T., Demartin, F., Gramaccioli, C. M. (1995) Thermal parameters for minerals of the olivine group: their implication on vibrational spectra, thermodynamic functions and transferable force fields. Acta Crystallographica Section B Structural Science, 51 (5) 721-733 doi:10.1107/s0108768194014382

Kohlstedt, D. L.; Keppler, H.; Rubie, D. C. (1996) Solubility of water in the α, β and γ phases of (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 123 (4). p.345-357. doi:10.1007/s004100050161

Deer, et al (1997), Vol. 1A: 3-336.

Kurosawa, M., Yurimoto, H., Sueno, S. (1997) Patterns in the hydrogen and trace element compositions of mantle olivines. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 24 (6) 385-395 doi:10.1007/s002690050052

Dyar, M., Delaney, Jeremy S., Sutton, Stephen R., Schaffer, Martha W. (1998) Fe³⁺ distribution in oxidized olivine: a synchrotron micro-XANES study. American Mineralogist, 83 (11-12 Part 1). 1361-1365 doi:10.2138/am-1998-11-1227

Kohlstedt, David L., Mackwell, Stephen J. (1998) Diffusion of Hydrogen and Intrinsic Point Defects in Olivine. Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie, 207. 147-162 doi:10.1524/zpch.1998.207.part_1_2.147

Mei, S., and D.L. Kohlstedt (2000a), Influence of water on plastic deformation of olivine aggregates; 1, Diffusion creep regime: Journal of Geophysical Research, B, Solid Earth and Planets: 105(9): 21, 457, 469.

Mei, S., and D.L. Kohlstedt (2000b), Influence of water on plastic deformation of olivine aggregates; 2, Dislocation creep regime: Journal of Geophysical Research, B, Solid Earth and Planets: 105: 21471-21481.

Jamtveit, B., Brooker, R., Brooks, K., Larsen, L.M., and Pedersen, T. (2001) The water content of olivines from the North Atlantic Volcanic Province. Earth and Planetary Science Letters: 186(3-4): 401-415.

Goodrich, Cyrena Anne, Fioretti, Anna Maria, Tribaudino, Mario, Molin, Gianmario (2001) Primary trapped melt inclusions in olivine in the olivine-augite-orthopyroxene ureilite Hughes 009. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 65 (4) 621-652 doi:10.1016/s0016-7037(00)00521-4

Wirth, R., Ukhanov, A. V., Khisina, N. R., Andrut, M. (2001) Extrinsic and intrinsic mode of hydrogen occurrence in natural olivines: FTIR and TEM investigation. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 28 (5) 291-301 doi:10.1007/s002690100162

Khisina, N.R., Wirth, R., and Andrut, M. (2002) Forms of occurrence of OH in mantle olivines I. Structural hydroxyl. Geochemistry International (Geokhimya): 40: 332-341.

Kent, Adam J.R., Rossman, George R. (2002) Hydrogen, lithium, and boron in mantle-derived olivine: The role of coupled substitutions. American Mineralogist, 87 (10) 1432-1436 doi:10.2138/am-2002-1020

Li, L. (2003) Rheology of olivine at high temperature and high pressure, 137 p., SUNY at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, NY.

Li, L., Raterron, P., Weidner, D., and Chen, J. (2003) Olivine flow mechanisms at 8GPa: Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interior: 138: 113-129.

Bell, David R., Rossman, George R., Maldener, Joachim, Endisch, Denis, Rauch, Friedel (2003) Hydroxide in olivine: A quantitative determination of the absolute amount and calibration of the IR spectrum. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 108. 8 doi:10.1029/2001jb000679

Berry, A., Hermann, J., and O'Neill, H. (2004) The water site in mantle olivine. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta: 68: A36.

MATVEEV, S. (2004) FTIR Spectrum of Phenocryst Olivine as an Indicator of Silica Saturation in Magmas. Journal of Petrology, 46 (3) 603-614 doi:10.1093/petrology/egh090

Li, Li, Weidner, Donald, Raterron, Paul, Chen, Jiuhua, Vaughan, Michael (2004) Stress measurements of deforming olivine at high pressure. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 143. 357-367 doi:10.1016/j.pepi.2003.09.022

Matsyuk, S. S., Langer, K. (2004) Hydroxyl in olivines from mantle xenoliths in kimberlites of the Siberian platform. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 147 (4) 413-437 doi:10.1007/s00410-003-0541-3

Mosenfelder, J.L., Sharp, T.G., Asimow, P.D., and Rossman, G.R. (2004) Hydrogen in olivines from the Colorado Plateau: implications for water in the mantle and the Alpe Arami controversy. EOS Trans AGU: 85(47), Abstract T32B-07.

Zhao, Yong-Hong, Ginsberg, S. B., Kohlstedt, D. L. (2004) Solubility of hydrogen in olivine: dependence on temperature and iron content. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 147 (2) 155-161 doi:10.1007/s00410-003-0524-4

Papike, J.J., Karner, J.M., Shearer, C.K. (2004) Comparative planetary mineralogy: V/(Cr + Al) systematics in chromite as an indicator of relative oxygen fugacity. American Mineralogist, 89 (10) 1557-1560 doi:10.2138/am-2004-1027

Mosenfelder, J. L., Deligne, N.I., Asimow, P.D., Rossman, G.R. (2006) Hydrogen incorporation in olivine from 2-12 GPa. American Mineralogist, 91 (2-3). 285-294 doi:10.2138/am.2006.1943

Li, Li, Weidner, Donald, Raterron, Paul, Chen, Jiuhua, Vaughan, Michael, Mei, Shenghua, Durham, Bill (2006) Deformation of olivine at mantle pressure using the D-DIA. European Journal of Mineralogy, 18 (1) 7-19 doi:10.1127/0935-1221/2006/0018-0007

Pertermann, M., Hofmeister, A. M. (2006) Thermal diffusivity of olivine-group minerals at high temperature. American Mineralogist, 91 (11) 1747-1760 doi:10.2138/am.2006.2105

Devic, S., Marceta, L. (2007) Differences in morphological properties between the olivine group minerals formed in natural and industrial processes. Journal of Mining and Metallurgy, Section B: Metallurgy, 43 (1). 99-105 doi:10.2298/jmmb0701099d

MOURI, Takashi, ENAMI, Masaki (2008) Raman spectroscopic study of olivine-group minerals. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, 103 (2) 100-104 doi:10.2465/jmps.071015

King, R.J. (2009) Olivine Group. Geology Today, 25 (5) 193-197 doi:10.1111/j.1365-2451.2009.00730.x

EJIMA, Terumi, AKASAKA, Masahide, NAGAO, Takashi, OHFUJI, Hiroaki (2012) Oxidation state of Fe in olivine in andesitic scoria from Kasayama volcano, Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences, 107 (6) 215-225 doi:10.2465/jmps.120605

Schneider, Philipp, Tropper, Peter, Kaindl, Reinhard (2013) The formation of phosphoran olivine and stanfieldite from the pyrometamorphic breakdown of apatite in slags from a prehistoric ritual immolation site (Goldbichl, Igls, Tyrol, Austria) Mineralogy and Petrology, 107 (2) 327-340 doi:10.1007/s00710-012-0255-1

(2013) Olivine Group. In An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals. Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. doi:10.1180/dhz.1

Azevedo, Samantha, Nespolo, Massimo (2017) Twinning in olivine group revisited. European Journal of Mineralogy, 29 (2) 213-226 doi:10.1127/ejm/2017/0029-2598

Ejima, Terumi, Osanai, Yasuhito, Akasaka, Masahide, Adachi, Tatsuro, Nakano, Nobuhiko, Kon, Yoshiaki, Ohfuji, Hiroaki, Sereenen, Jargalan (2018) Oxidation States of Fe in Constituent Minerals of a Spinel Lherzolite Xenolith from the Tariat Depression, Mongolia: The Significance of Fe3+ in Olivine. Minerals, 8 (5) 204 doi:10.3390/min8050204

Demouchy, Sylvie (2021) Defects in olivine. European Journal of Mineralogy, 33 (3) 249-282 doi:10.5194/ejm-33-249-2021

do Nascimento‐Dias, Bruno Leonardo (2022) Overview about Raman spectroscopy of types of olivine group minerals: A brief review. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 53 (11) 1942-1946 doi:10.1002/jrs.6412

Wang, Y., Nestola, F., Li, H., Hou, Z., Pamato, M. G., Novella, D., Lorenzetti, A., Antignani, P. A., Cornale, P., Nava, J., Dong, G., Qu, K. (2023): In situ single-crystal X-ray diffraction of olivine inclusion in diamond from Shandong, China: implications for the depth of diamond formation. European Journal of Mineralogy: 35: 361–372.

Pushcharovsky, D. Yu. (2023) Structural Transformations of Minerals in the Earth’s Mantle: the New High Pressure Polymorphous Modifications of Olivine and Wollastonite. Zapiski RMO (Proceedings of the Russian Mineralogical Society) 5, 66-82 doi:10.31857/s0869605523050064

Localities for OlivineHide

Showing 4 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

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Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Austria
Lower Austria Krems-Land District Langenlois Langenlois ⓘ Loiser Berg	[var: Pilite] Exel (1993)

Czech Republic
Ústí nad Labem Region Teplice District ⓘ Krupka	[var: Pilite] Stemprok et al. (2014)

France
Brittany Finistère Brest Logonna-Daoulas ⓘ Moulin Mer	[var: Pilite] Chauris (2014)

Poland
Lower Silesian Voivodeship Kłodzko County ⓘ Gmina Nowa Ruda	[var: Pilite] Lis et al. (1986)

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