Unit cell dimensions of clinoenstatite and pigeonite in relation to other common clinopyroxenes

Abstract

X-ray studies of synthetic clinoenstatite and of pigeonite from lavas of the Hakone volcano, Japan, indicate that these minerals, in common with other clinopyroxenes, are isostructural with diopside. The demonstrated variation in unit-cell dimensions with changing composition suggests the possibility of determining the chemical composition of clinopyroxenes by a combination of x-ray and optical methods.