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augite
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Augite from Ontario A micrograph showing augite, seen as brightly coloured thin lamellae with herringbone texture because of the twinned relationship, separated from pigeonite; further cooling has caused the host, gray-coloured enstatite, to change symmetry (inverted and magnified about 22×). A micrograph showing a sample of inverted pigeonite from a slowly cooled gabbro. The augite lamellae here are relatively wide, separated from the enstatite host (magnified about 70.4×).
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Basalt sample returned by Apollo 15, from near a long sinous lunar valley called Hadley Rille. Measured at 3.3 years old.
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Augite from Ontario
Augite from Ontario

augite

mineral
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A micrograph showing augite, seen as brightly coloured thin lamellae with herringbone texture because of the twinned relationship, separated from pigeonite; further cooling has caused the host, gray-coloured enstatite, to change symmetry (inverted and magnified about 22×).
A micrograph showing augite, seen as brightly coloured thin lamellae with herringbone texture because of the twinned relationship, separated from pigeonite; further cooling has caused the host, gray-coloured enstatite, to change symmetry (inverted and magnified about 22×).

augite, the most common pyroxene mineral (a silicate of calcium, magnesium, iron, titanium, and aluminum). It occurs chiefly as thick, tabular crystals in basalts, gabbros, andesites, and various other dark-coloured igneous rocks. It also is a common constituent of lunar basalts and meteorites rich in basaltic material. Augites may be found in certain metamorphic rocks, notably marbles. For chemical formula and detailed physical properties, see pyroxene (table).

This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.
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