Olivine
Olivine
(Dunite)

Norway
Olivine
Alluvial Grains

South Africa
Olivine
Single Crystal

South Africa
Diagnostic Features

Hardness: 6.5
Streak: None to white
Luster: Nonmetallic glassy
Specific Gravity: 3.5-4.3
Cleavage: None
Fracture: Conchoidal
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]

Dreis Eifel Volcanic Fields

Rhineland Palatinate
GERMANY
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz

Forsterite​ var. Peridot
[Rough Crystal]

Peridot Mesa
San Carlos Indian Reservation

Gila County
ARIZONA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz

Forsterite​ var. Peridot
[Rough Crystal]

Peridot Mesa
San Carlos Indian Reservation

Gila County
ARIZONA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz

Forsterite​ var. Peridot
[Rough Crystal]

Peridot Mesa
San Carlos Indian Reservation

Gila County
ARIZONA
Photographed by Michael P. Klimetz

Forsterite​ var. Peridot
[Rough Crystal]

Peridot Mesa
San Carlos Indian Reservation

Gila County
ARIZONA