Several kinds of rocks consist of minerals that had used for several purposes. Metamorphic contains different minerals and, those rocks had used for suitable purposes. Pyroxene and Amphibole are the minerals that contain in the metamorphic rocks.
Key Takeaways
- Pyroxene is a group of dark-colored, silicate minerals that crystallize in a single chain of tetrahedrons.
- Amphibole is a group of dark-coloured, silicate minerals that crystallize in a double chain of tetrahedrons.
- Pyroxene and amphibole are common rock-forming minerals in igneous and metamorphic rocks but have different crystal structures and chemical compositions.
Pyroxene vs Amphibole
Pyroxene is a group of inosilicate minerals that forms in metamorphic rocks. In contrast, Amphibole is an inosilicate mineral that forms prisms or needlelike crystals. Pyroxene minerals mainly found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. The Chemical formula of the Pyroxene is that XY(Si, Al)2 SO2 where X, Y represents various ions. On the other way out, (X)7Si8O22(OH)2 is the main chemical formula of the Amphibole, where X represents iron, magnesium and calcium.
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Pyroxene is the minerals found in metamorphic rocks. The pyroxene minerals had found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Pyroxene is a large class of rocks that forms silicate minerals and contains calcium, magnesium, iron.
Pyroxene had mainly materialized as prismatic crystals. Pyroxene had abbreviated as Px, where a group of minerals forming in an igneous and metamorphic rock.
Amphibole is a group of inosilicate minerals that materialize in prisms and needle-like crystals. Amphibole contains a chain of SiO4 tetrahedra molecules.
Amphibole consist of iron ions and magnesium ions in the structure of the Amphibole crystals. Amphibole had available in different types of colours.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Pyroxene | Amphibole |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Pyroxene is the inosilicate minerals that form in metamorphic rocks. | Amphibole is a group of inosilicate minerals contains in igneous and metamorphic rocks. |
| Minerals | Pyroxene obtains silicate minerals, calcium, iron ions and magnesium ions. | Amphibole consists of minerals like aluminium silicate, sodium ions, iron ions, magnesium and tetrahedra ions. |
| Structure | Pyroxene accommodates Octahedral layers that contain marked cations like M1 and M2. | Amphibole appears in two different crystal structure. Monoclinic and Orthorhombic are the structures of Amphibole. |
| Colours | Depending on the chemical process, the Pyroxene can turn from dark green to black colour, turn into apple green and from lilac to colourless. | Depending on the chemical compositions, Amphibole can turn colourless to green, white, brown, black, blue or lavender. |
| Properties | Pyroxene consists of 5-6 of solidity, specific gravity up to 3.2-3.9, cleavage planes. Have crystal structure and Lustre. | Amphibole consists of 5-6 of solidity, specific gravity up to 2.9-3.2. Elongate habit and two directions of cleavage are the main properties. |
What is Pyroxene?
Pyroxene is an inosilicate mineral that forms on igneous and metamorphic rocks. Pyroxene is a large class of rocks that form silicate minerals and contains calcium, magnesium, iron.
Pyroxene had mainly materialized as prismatic crystals. Pyroxene had abbreviated as Px, where a group of minerals forming in Igneous, metamorphic rock.
The Chemical formula of the Pyroxene is that XY(Si, Al)2SO2. Where X constitutes calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron (II), lithium, manganese and, Y constitutes smaller size ions such as chromium, magnesium, cobalt, iron (II), aluminium, manganese, scandium, titanium, vanadium, iron.
There may exist so many kinds of pyroxenes such as magnesium-iron pyroxenes, calcium-sodium pyroxenes, sodium pyroxenes, calcium pyroxenes and lithium pyroxenes. Pyroxene accommodates Octahedral layers where those layers had marked as M1 and M2.
Depending on the chemical process, the Pyroxene can turn from dark green to black colour, turn into apple green and from lilac to colourless. Properties of the Pyroxene had it consists of 5-6 of solidity, specific gravity up to 3.2 to 3.9, cleavage planes, Lustre and crystal structure.
The minor and secondary compositions of Pyroxene used as the crushed stone and dimension stone.
What is Amphibole?
Amphibole is one of the inosilicate mineral rocks locates on igneous and metamorphic rocks. An amphibole is a group of inosilicate minerals that materialize in prisms and needle like crystals.
Amphibole contains a chain of (SiO)4 tetrahedra molecules. (X)7Si8O22(OH)2 is the main chemical formula of the Amphibole, where X represents iron, magnesium and calcium.
Amphibole consists of minerals like aluminium silicate, sodium ions, iron ions, magnesium and tetrahedra ions. (X)7Si8O22(OH)2 is the main chemical formula of the Amphibole, where X represents iron, magnesium and calcium.
Amphibole appears in two different crystal structure. Monoclinic and Orthorhombic are the structures of Amphibole. Depending on the chemical compositions, Amphibole can turn colourless to green, white, brown, black, blue or lavender.
Properties of the Amphibole are 5 to 6 of hardness, 2.9 to 3.2 of specific gravity, two directions of cleavage planes such intersects 59 degrees and 120 degrees and broaden habit.
Amphibole rocks had used as paving stones and slightly facing on the buildings as interior part or exterior part. An Amphibole had mainly used as crushed stones that help in constructing roads and railroads.
Main Differences Between Pyroxene and Amphibole
- Pyroxene is an inosilicate mineral used on rocks, where Amphibole is also an inosilicate mineral that forms on igneous and metamorphic rocks.
- Pyroxene can find in prismatic crystals where Amphibole can appear in prisms and needle like crystals.
- Pyroxene accommodates Octahedral layers where Amphibole appears Monoclinic and Orthorhombic in structure.
- The Chemical formula of the Pyroxene is that XY(Si, Al)2 SO2 where X, Y represents various ions. On the other way out, (X)7Si8O22(OH)2 is the main chemical formula of the Amphibole, where X represents iron, magnesium and calcium.
- The Pyroxene can turn from dark green to black colour, turn into apple green and from lilac to colourless, where Amphibole can turn colourless to green, white, brown, black, blue or lavender.
- Pyroxene contains a single chain of tetrahedra ions. On the other hand, Amphibole consists of the double chain of tetrahedra ions.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/001670378190065X
- https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF00371882.pdf
- https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF00636515.pdf
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
