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Enstatite is a magnesium silicate mineral with the chemical formula

Mg2Si2O6

Mg2Si2O6

and an orthorhombic crystal system. It is a common rock-forming mineral, often found in mafic igneous rocks and meteorites, and can be white, greenish, gray, or brown. It has a hardness of 5.5 on the Mohs scale and a vitreous or pearly luster.

Chemical and physical properties

• Chemical Formula:

  Mg2Si2O6

  Mg2Si2O6

• Crystal System: Orthorhombic

• Hardness: 5.5 on the Mohs scale

• Specific Gravity: 3.2–3.3

• Color: White, greenish white, gray, or brown

• Luster: Vitreous or pearly, sometimes submetallic (when it is called bronzite)

• Cleavage: Distinct in two directions

• Fracture: Brittle

Occurrence and formation

• Geological: Enstatite is common in mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks like basalt and peridotite, and also occurs in metamorphic rocks like granulites.

• Extraterrestrial: It is a major component of enstatite chondrite meteorites.

• Conditions: It can also occur in other forms like protoenstatite at high temperatures and clinoenstatite at low temperatures.

Other information

• The name "enstatite" comes from the Greek word "enstates," meaning "opponent".

• A bronzy, submetallic variety is called bronzite.

• Enstatite can alter to form the mineral steatite.