Calcio-olivine
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Calcio-olivine
Formula:
Ca2SiO4
Colour:
Very light yellowish rose (caused by microinclusions of bernalite), colorless in thin sections
Hardness:
4½
Specific Gravity:
2.986 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
In allusion to its composition, containing dominant calcium, and its relationship to the olivine series.
Type Locality:
Dimorph of:
Olivine Group. The calcium analogue of Fayalite, Forsterite, and Tephroite. The low-temperature, orthorhombic polymorph of Larnite.
May occur as the result of the conversion of larnite, which is metastable below 520°C.
May occur as the result of the conversion of larnite, which is metastable below 520°C.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
9574
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:9574:3
IMA Classification of Calcio-olivine
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA status notes:
Redefined by the IMA
First published:
1877
Approval history:
Redefined IMA2007 s.p.
Classification of Calcio-olivine
9.AD.10
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination
9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
D : Nesosilicates without additional anions; cations in [6] and/or greater coordination
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Caol | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Calcio-olivine
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Calcio-olivine
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Glassy
Colour:
Very light yellowish rose (caused by microinclusions of bernalite), colorless in thin sections
Hardness:
4½ on Mohs scale
Comment:
Cleavage or jointing in two directions.
Density:
2.986 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Calcio-olivine
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.640 - 1.644 nβ = 1.651 - 1.655 nγ = 1.655 - 1.659
2V:
Measured: 69° to 81°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.015
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Comments:
colorless in thin section
Comments:
optical data presented are for material from Verkhnechegemsk caldera (Kabardino-Balkaria, Russian Federation) (Zadov et al., 2007). Older data for other occurrences show some different values for R.I.
Chemistry of Calcio-olivine
Mindat Formula:
Ca2SiO4
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Calcio-olivine
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.07389(7) Å, b = 11.21128(14) Å, c = 6.75340(9) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.453 : 1 : 0.602
Unit Cell V:
384.17 ų
Z:
4
Comment:
Space group Pbnm. Cell parameters from Zadov et al. (2008).
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012409 | Calcio-olivine | Gobechiya E R, Yamnova N A, Zadov A E, Gazeev V M (2008) Calcio-olivine gamma-Ca2SiO4: I. Rietveld refinement of the crystal structure Crystallography Reports 53 404-408 | 2008 | Lakargi Mountain, North Caucasus, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia | 0 | 293 | |
| 0017745 | Calcio-olivine | Udagawa S, Urabe K, Natsume M, Yano T (1980) Refinement of the crystal structure of gamma-Ca2SiO4 Cement and Concrete Research 10 139-144 | 1980 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.323 Å | (34) |
| 3.822 Å | (35) |
| 3.014 Å | (90) |
| 2.752 Å | (70) |
| 2.730 Å | (100) |
| 1.909 Å | (53) |
Comments:
Xenolith no. 3, Lakargi Mountain, Russia. The data are from Zadov et al. (2009).
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 31 : Thermally altered carbonate, phosphate, and iron formations |
Type Occurrence of Calcio-olivine
General Appearance of Type Material:
Rounded grains to 2-3 mm in size.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, no. 3546/1.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In skarnated xenoliths from acid ignimbrites.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Calcio-olivine
Other Language Names for Calcio-olivine
Dutch:Calcio-olivine
German:Calcio-Olivin
Relationship of Calcio-olivine to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Olivine Group:
| Fayalite | Fe2+2(SiO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Forsterite | Mg2(SiO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Glaucochroite | CaMn2+(SiO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Hinokageite | MnMg(SiO4) | Orth. mm2 |
| Kirschsteinite | CaFe2+(SiO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
| Laihunite | (Fe3+,Fe2+,◻)2(SiO4) | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Liebenbergite | Ni2(SiO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Monticellite | CaMg(SiO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Tephroite | Mn2+2(SiO4) | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pnma |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 3 photos of Calcio-olivine associated with Ternesite | Ca5(SiO4)2(SO4) |
| 3 photos of Calcio-olivine associated with Jasmundite | Ca11(SiO4)4O2S |
| 2 photos of Calcio-olivine associated with Pavlovskyite | Ca8(SiO4)2(Si3O10) |
| 2 photos of Calcio-olivine associated with Hillebrandite | Ca2(SiO3)(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Calcio-olivine associated with Larnite | Ca2SiO4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 9.AD. | Adrianite | Ca12(Al4Mg3Si7)O32Cl6 |
| 9.AD.05 | Larnite | Ca2SiO4 |
| 9.AD.15 | Merwinite | Ca3Mg(SiO4)2 |
| 9.AD.20 | Bredigite | Ca7Mg(SiO4)4 |
| 9.AD.25 | Midbarite | Ca3Mg2(V5+2Si)O12 |
| 9.AD.25 | Menzerite-(Y) | (Y2Ca)Mg2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Uvarovite | Ca3Cr3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Eltyubyuite | Ca12Fe3+10Si4O32Cl6 |
| 9.AD.25 | Eringaite | Ca3Sc2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Henritermierite | Ca3Mn3+2(SiO4)2[◻(OH)4] |
| 9.AD.25 va | 'Hydrougrandite' | (Ca,Mg,Fe2+)3(Fe3+,Al)2[(OH)4(SiO4)2] |
| 9.AD.25 | Calderite | Mn2+3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Nikmelnikovite | Ca12(Fe2+Fe3+3Al3◻)[SiO4]6[◻(OH)4]5◻4 |
| 9.AD.25 | Hutcheonite | Ca3Ti2(SiO4)(AlO4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | Wadalite | (Ca,Mg)6(Al,Fe3+)4((Si,Al)O4)3O4Cl3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Rubinite | Ca3Ti3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Kerimasite | Ca3Zr2(SiO4)(Fe3+O4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | Holtstamite | Ca3Al2(SiO4)2[◻(OH)4] |
| 9.AD.25 | Spessartine | Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Toturite | Ca3Sn2(SiO4)(Fe3+O4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | Kimzeyite | Ca3Zr2(SiO4)(AlO4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | 'Khoharite' | Mg3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Irinarassite | Ca3Sn2(SiO4)(AlO4)2 |
| 9.AD.25 | Knorringite | Mg3Cr3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Goldmanite | Ca3V3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | 'Blythite' | Mn2+3Mn3+2[SiO4]3 |
| 9.AD.25 | 'Skiagite' | Fe2+3Fe3+2[SiO4]3 |
| 9.AD.25 | 'UM1984-37-SiO:CrMn' | Mn2+3Cr3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Almandine | Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 va | 'Yamatoite' | (Mn2+,Ca)3(V3+,Al)2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Momoiite | Mn2+3V3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Grossular | Ca3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Andradite | Ca3Fe3+2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Morimotoite | Ca3(TiFe2+)(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Majorite | Mg3(MgSi)(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Pyrope | Mg3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.25 | Schorlomite | Ca3Ti2(SiO4)(Fe3+O4)2 |
| 9.AD.30 | Hafnon | Hf(SiO4) |
| 9.AD.30 | Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| 9.AD.30 | Coffinite | U(SiO4) · nH2O |
| 9.AD.30 | Thorite | Th(SiO4) |
| 9.AD.30 va | 'Auerlite' | near Th(Si,P)O4 |
| 9.AD.30 | Stetindite-(Ce) | Ce4+SiO4 |
| 9.AD.35 | 'Tombarthite-(Y)' | Y4(Si,H4)4O12-x(OH)4+2x |
| 9.AD.35 | Huttonite | ThSiO4 |
| 9.AD.40 | Eulytine | Bi4(SiO4)3 |
| 9.AD.45 | Reidite | Zr(SiO4) |
| 9.AD.55 | Jeffbenite | Mg3Al2Si3O12 |
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
IR-spectrum of calcio-olivine containing strong lines 943, 931, 915, 855 (strongest line), 817, 810 (shoulder), 705, 559, 512, 500, 452, and 440 cm–1.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Calcio-olivine
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-9574.html
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References for Calcio-olivine
Reference List:
Tilley, C. E. (1929) On larnite (calcium orthosilicate, a new mineral) and its associated minerals from the limestone contact-zone of Scawt Hill, Co. Antrim. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 22 (125) 77-86 doi:10.1180/minmag.1929.022.125.01
O'Daniel, H., Tscheischwili, L. (1942) Zur Struktur von γ-Ca2SiO4 und Na2BeF4. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 104 (1). 124-141 doi:10.1524/zkri.1942.104.1.124
Smith, D. K. (1962) Crystallographic changes with the substitution of aluminum for iron in dicalcium ferrite. Acta Crystallographica, 15 (11) 1146-1152 doi:10.1107/s0365110x62003011
Cruickshank, D. W. J. (1964) Refinements of structures containing bonds between Si, P, S or Cl and O or N. X. β-Ca2SiO4. Acta Crystallographica, 17 (6). 685-686 doi:10.1107/s0365110x64001724
Bridge, Thomas E. (1966) Bredigite, larnite, and γ dicalcium silicates from Marble Canyon. American Mineralogist, 51 (11-12) 1766-1774
Udagawa, S., Urabe, K., Natsume, M., Yano, T. (1980) Refinement of the crystal structure of γ-Ca2SiO4. Cement and Concrete Research, 10 (2). 139-144 doi:10.1016/0008-8846(80)90070-8
Localities for Calcio-olivine
Showing 11 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Germany | |
| Rüdinger et al. (1993) |
| Hentschel (1987) |
| in the collection of Christof Schäfer | |
| Hentschel (1987) |
North Macedonia | |
| Đorđević et al. (2024) |
Russia | |
| Cesnokov et al. (1998) |
| Pekov (1998) |
| Cesnokov et al. (1998) |
| Armbruster et al. (2011) +1 other reference |
| Zadov et al. (2008) +2 other references |
USA | |
| Bridge (1966) |
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Xenolith CS-008, Seekante, Mayen, Mayen-Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany