Hypersthene is an iron-rich pyroxene mineral noted for its distinct submetallic, bronzy luster on cleavage planes. It commonly appears in massive forms within igneous rocks and is a popular choice for lapidary work due to its attractive chatoyancy when cut as cabochons.
Is this hypersthene?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch hypersthene with a known reference. Hypersthene sits at Mohs 5.5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: grayish greenish white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to silky.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, dark brown, dark green, gray, grayish white, greenish white, yellowish white, bronzy brown, grayish black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: crystalline, massive.
Often confused with
Hypersthene vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hypersthene leaves grayish greenish white, Bronzite leaves white; luster reads vitreous to silky on Hypersthene and submetallic on Bronzite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hypersthene leaves grayish greenish white, Enstatite leaves white to grayish.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hypersthene leaves grayish greenish white, Augite leaves gray-green.
Often found alongside hypersthene
Minerals reported to co-occur with hypersthene. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Mg,Fe)₂Si₂O₆
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 3.2-3.9 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Grayish greenish white
- Luster
- Vitreous to silky
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Crystalline, massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {100}; perfect on {010}
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Lapidary
- Host rock
- Minerals of basic igneous rocks and meteorites
Where rockhounds find hypersthene
Classic worldwide localities
- Labrador, Canada
- Arendal, Norway
- Adirondack Mountains, USA
- Madagascar
- Bavaria, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Minerals of basic igneous rocks and meteorites. If you start seeing labradorite, magnetite, oligoclase in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hypersthene on the map
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