clinopyroxene

9.9

A dark mineral that forms in volcanic and heat-formed rocks and contains calcium, magnesium and iron

noun
/ˌklaɪnəˈpaɪrəkˌsiːn/

Specialized

: clinopiroxeno

Basalt often contains abundant clinopyroxene crystals along with other minerals.

Examples

The geologist examined the clinopyroxene grains under a microscope to determine their composition.
Researchers studied the clinopyroxene in the rock sample to learn about its volcanic origin.
The rock sample contained clinopyroxene and other minerals.
Many clinopyroxenes are rich in iron.
The geologist examined the clinopyroxene grains under a microscope to determine their composition.
Basalt often contains abundant clinopyroxene crystals along with other minerals.
Researchers studied the clinopyroxene in the rock sample to learn about its volcanic origin.

Synonyms

pyroxene

vsclinopyroxene

Specialized

1 9.9

A dark, hard mineral that forms crystals in hot or changed rocks

is a narrower subgroup defined by common calcium magnesium and iron content

How Hard

quartz

19 3.7

clinopyroxene

Specialized

9.9

calcite

Specialized

2 6.2

gypsum

Specialized

4 6.7

talc

6 4.2

Surface Forms

clinopyroxene singular

clinopyroxenes plural

Morphology

clinopyroxene = pyroxene (opaque) = clino + pyroxene

The combining form 'clino-' denotes a specific crystallographic (monoclinic) subgroup and is a technical geological term, so the relation is not derivable by average learners from 'pyroxene' alone.

Etymology

Clinopyroxene comes from clino- ('to lean', like 'incline') plus pyroxene (from pyro- 'fire'). So it means the 'leaning' type of pyroxene and is a common mineral found in volcanic or other 'fire-made' rocks.