Mineral Group · 15 minerals
Pyroxene & Amphibole
Minerals
15
Hardness
3.5-7 Mohs
Crystal Systems
Monoclinic, Orthorhombic, Triclinic
What Defines the Chain Silicates Group
Single-chain (pyroxene) and double-chain (amphibole) silicate minerals. Pyroxenes include diopside, spodumene (kunzite/hiddenite), and enstatite. Amphiboles include actinolite, tremolite, and hornblende. When actinolite forms dense interlocking fibers, the result is nephrite jade, one of the toughest natural materials known.
Minerals in This Group
Actinolite
The Ray Stone
Hardness 5.5·Amphibole Group (Silicate)
Bronzite
The Bronze Shield
Hardness 5.5·Pyroxene Group (Silicate)
Chrome Diopside
The Siberian Emerald
Hardness 5.5·Pyroxene Group (Silicate)
Diopside
The Emerald's Understudy
Hardness 5.5·Pyroxene Group (Silicate)
Enstatite
The Meteorite Mineral
Hardness 5.5·Pyroxene Group
Hiddenite
The Emerald's Lithium Cousin
Hardness 6.5·Pyroxene Group (Spodumene)
Hornblende
The Dark Amphibole
Hardness 5.5·Amphibole Group
Hypersthene
The Black Schiller Pyroxene
Hardness 5.5·Pyroxene Group (Orthopyroxene)
Kunzite
The Evening Stone
Hardness 6.5·Spodumene variety
Nephrite
The Original Jade
Hardness 6·Amphibole Group (Silicate)
Pargasite
Calcium Sodium Magnesium Amphibole
Hardness 6·Amphibole Group
Rhodonite
The Rescue Stone
Hardness 6·Inosilicate Group
Shattuckite
The Copper Prophet
Hardness 3.5·Silicate Mineral (Inosilicate)
Spodumene
The Lithium Giant
Hardness 7·Pyroxene Group
Tremolite
The Jade Builder
Hardness 5.5·Amphibole Group