augite

American  

[aw-jahyt] / ˈɔ dʒaɪt /

noun

1. a silicate mineral, chiefly of calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum: a dark-green to black variety of monoclinic pyroxene, characteristic of basic rocks.

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augite British  

/ ɔːˈɡɪtɪk, ˈɔːɡaɪt /

noun

1. a black or greenish-black mineral of the pyroxene group, found in igneous rocks. Composition: calcium magnesium iron aluminium silicate. General formula: (Ca,Mg,Fe,Al)(Si,Al) 2 O 6 . Crystal structure: monoclinic

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augite Scientific  

/ ô′jīt′ /

1. A glassy, dark-green to black variety of pyroxene. Chemical formula: (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al)(Si,Al) ₂ O ₆ .

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Other Word Forms

• augitic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of augite

1780–90; < Latin augītis a kind of precious stone < Greek, equivalent to aug ( ḗ ) sunlight + -ītis, feminine of -ītēs -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Like obsidian, in fact, their edges are sharp but the shards have an almost twirly shape and lack the crystalline structure of black-colored minerals like augite or tourmaline.

From Salon • Mar. 4, 2025

The augite is mostly a variety of diopside and is only occasionally idiomorphic.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 10 "Echinoderma" to "Edward" by Various

In the less complete stages of alteration, ophitic structure may persist, and the original augite of the rock may not have been entirely replaced by 689 hornblende.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 6 "English Language" to "Epsom Salts" by Various

There are a number of varieties or sub-species of augite.

From Geology by Geikie, James

The augite is usually brown, but greenish, violet and colourless varieties may occur.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 4 "G" to "Gaskell, Elizabeth" by Various