Hedenbergite

Hedenbergite Location: First Sovietsky mine, Dalnjegorsk, Russia. Scale: 4 x 2.8 x 1.8 cm. Copyright: © Fabre Minerals

Chemical Formula: CaFeSi2O6
Locality: Nordmark, Sweden.
Name Origin: Named after the Swedish mineralogist, M. A. L. Hedenberg.

Hedenbergite, CaFeSi2O6, is the iron rich end member of the pyroxene group having a monoclinic crystal system. The mineral is extremely rarely found as a pure substance, and usually has to be synthesized in a lab. It was named in 1819 after M.A. Ludwig Hedenberg, who was the first to define hedenbergite as a mineral. Contact metamorphic rocks high in iron are the primary geologic setting for hedenbergite. This mineral is unique because it can be found in chondrites and skarns (calc-silicate metamorphic rocks). Since it is a member of the pyroxene family, there is a great deal of interest in its importance to general geologic processes.

Physical Properties

Color: Brownish green, Gray green, Grayish black, Dark green, Black.
Density: 3.55
Diaphaneity: Transparent to translucent to opaque
Fracture: Brittle – Conchoidal – Very brittle fracture producing small, conchoidal fragments.
Hardness: 5-6 – Between Apatite and Orthoclase
Luminescence: Non-fluorescent.
Luster: Vitreous – Pearly
Streak: white green

Photos :

Hedenbergite and manganogruberite Nikolaevskiy mine – Dal’negorsk – Kavalerovo Mining distr. – Primorskiy Kray – Far-Eastern Region – Russia Specimen weight:73 gr. Crystal size:mm. 33 Overall size: 52mm x 23 mm x 53 mm © minservice
Hedenbergite Laxey Mine, South Mountain, Idaho, USA Miniature, 3.1 x 1 x 0.7 cm © irocks
HEDENBERGITE Nordmark, Filipstad, Varmland, Sweden, Europe Size: 5 x 4 x 4 cm (Small Cabinet) Owner: Kristalle and Crystal Classics
Quartz with Hedenbergite inclusions Huanggang Mine, Keshiketeng Co., Chifeng Prefecture, Inner Mongolia, China Size: 13.5 x 12.0 x 8.0 cm (cabinet) © danweinrich
Iron Cap Mine, Landsman Camp (Landsman group), Aravaipa, Santa Teresa Mts, Aravaipa District, Graham Co., Arizona, USA © 2001 John H. Betts