hypersthene

[hahy-pers-theen]

noun Mineralogy.

a dark iron magnesium silicate, an orthorhombic pyroxene containing more than 14 percent ferrous oxide.

Compare bronzite, enstatite.

Origin of hypersthene

1800–10; hyper- + Greek sthénos strength, might; replacing hyperstene < French hyperstène

Related formshy·per·sthen·ic

[hahy-pers-then-ik] /ˌhaɪ pərsˈθɛn ɪk/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for hypersthene

Historical Examples of hypersthene

Hypersthene (or bronzite) is characteristic of another group.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 3
Various
Hypersthene, when present, is often strikingly pleochroic in colours varying from pink to bright green.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 4
Various
Some contain biotite, others augite or hypersthene; many have a small amount of quartz.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5
Various
Green augite and hypersthene form a considerable part of these rocks, they may contain also biotite, hornblende and quartz.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 3
Various
It may be noted also that hypersthene shows a tendency to magmatic alteration, although only rarely.
Mount Rainier
Various

British Dictionary definitions for hypersthene

hypersthene

noun

a green, brown, or black pyroxene mineral consisting of magnesium iron silicate in orthorhombic crystalline form. Formula: (Mg,Fe) 2 Si 2 O 6

Derived Formshypersthenic (ˌhaɪpəˈsθɛnɪk), adjective

Word Origin for hypersthene

C19: from hyper- + Greek sthenos strength

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012