Other: Olivine possesses a characteristic lime green color. It is ubiquitous to mafic and particularly ultramafic igneous rocks. Dunite is the phaneritic ultramafic (peridotitic) igneous rock comprised entirely of olivine.
Identification Tips
Olivine is restricted to mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks where it forms a principal constituent. Some phaneritic igneous rocks, notably peridotites, consist dominantly and even exclusively of olivine (dunite).
Olivine forms abrasive, glassy, lime-green crystals. Their color is unmistakable.
Olivine is harder than glass and will scratch feldspar but will not scratch quartz.
Olivine never occurs in association with quartz or orthoclase feldspar.
Olivine is the densest of the silicate minerals.
Olivine
Crystal Grains
Arizona
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Xenolith in Tertiary Basalt
San Carlos Indian Reservation
Gila County
ARIZONA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Xenolith in Tertiary Basalt
San Carlos Indian Reservation
Gila County
ARIZONA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Peridot
Kohistan
PAKISTAN
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Peridot
Kohistan
PAKISTAN
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Peridot
Kohistan
PAKISTAN
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Peridot
Kohistan
PAKISTAN
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
[Partial Crystals with Chrome Diopside in Basalt]
Smrčí
Železný Brod
Liberec Region
CZECH REPUBLIC
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Forsterite
[Transparent Crystals with Diopside in Quaternary Basalt Peridotite Xenolith]
Dreis Eifel Volcanic Fields
Rhineland Palatinate
GERMANY
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Forsterite
[Transparent Crystals with Diopside in Quaternary Basalt Peridotite Xenolith]
Dreis Eifel Volcanic Fields
Rhineland Palatinate
GERMANY
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz
Forsterite
[Transparent Crystals with Diopside in Quaternary Basalt Peridotite Xenolith]
