hypersthene

American  

[hahy-pers-theen] / ˈhaɪ pərsˌθin /

noun

Mineralogy.

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

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hypersthene British  

/ ˌhaɪpəˈsθɛnɪk, ˈhaɪpəˌsθiːn /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• hypersthenic adjective

Etymology

Origin of hypersthene

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

Example Sentences

The augite is nearly always green but sometimes has a reddish tinge; bronzite and hypersthene have their usual green and brown shades.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various

These diabases, as they will be called generically, are usually composed of plagioclase feldspar, and diallage or augite; additional and rarer minerals are quartz, olivine, hypersthene, magnetite, ilmenite, and hornblende.

From History and Comprehensive Description of Loudoun County, Virginia by Head, James William

Some contain biotite, others augite or hypersthene; many have a small amount of quartz.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5 "Dinard" to "Dodsworth" by Various

BRONZITE, a member of the pyroxene group of minerals, belonging with enstatite and hypersthene to the orthorhombic series of the group.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 "Brescia" to "Bulgaria" by Various

In some gabbros and norites reaction rims of fibrous hornblende are found around both hypersthene and diallage where these are in contact with felspar.

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