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

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

Thus magnetite, apatite and picotite, with olivine, may be enclosed in augite, hornblende, and hypersthene, sometimes with a later growth of biotite, while the felspars occupy the interspaces between the clusters of ferromagnesian minerals.

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

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

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

Green augite and hypersthene form a considerable part of these rocks, they may contain also biotite, hornblende and quartz.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 3 "Gordon, Lord George" to "Grasses" by Various