olivine

American  

[ol-uh-veen, ol-uh-veen] / ˈɒl əˌvin, ˌɒl əˈvin /

noun

1. Mineralogy. any of a group of magnesium iron silicates, (Mg,Fe) 2 SiO 4 , occurring in olive-green to gray-green masses as an important constituent of basic igneous rocks.

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olivine British  

/ ˌɒlɪˈviːn, ˈɒlɪˌviːn /

noun

1. Also called: chrysolite.  an olive-green mineral of the olivine group, found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. The clear-green variety (peridot) is used as a gemstone. Composition: magnesium iron silicate. Formula: (MgFe) 2 SiO 4 . Crystal structure: orthorhombic

2. any mineral in the group having the general formula (Mg,Fe,Mn,Ca) 2 SiO 4

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olivine Scientific  

/ ŏl′ə-vēn′ /

1. An olive-green to brownish-green orthorhombic mineral. Olivine is a common mineral in the igneous rocks, such as basalt and gabbro, that make up most of the Earth's crust beneath the oceans. Chemical formula: (Mg,Fe) ₂ SiO ₄ .

2. ◆ Olivine in which the mafic component consists entirely of magnesium is called forsterite. Chemical formula: Mg ₂ SiO ₄ .

3. ◆ Olivine in which the mafic component consists entirely of iron is called fayalite. Chemical formula: Fe ₂ SiO ₄ .

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Other Word Forms

• olivinic adjective
• olivinitic adjective

Etymology

Origin of olivine

1785–95; < German Olivin, equivalent to Olive olive + -in -ine ²

Example Sentences

However, the team identifies a different class of relatively pristine asteroids that display olivine and spinel signatures as more promising mining targets.

From Science Daily • Dec. 25, 2025

They are produced in a number of ways but the main process involves the interaction of ground water with iron-rich minerals such as olivine.

From BBC • Dec. 11, 2023

Alkaline materials such as limestone or olivine could be ground up or dissolved in water and then poured into the ocean from a ship.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 30, 2023

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution geochemist Forrest Horton discovered helium isotope ratios in olivine samples from the Baffin lava fields that had up to 50 times the concentrations found in atmospheric levels.

From Salon • Oct. 24, 2023

Crown 8vo; cloth extra, olivine edges, 3s. 6d.

From The Girl Crusoes A Story of the South Seas by Strang, Mrs. Herbert