Olivine
The Olivine mineral is a mineral that exists in the upper core of the earth’s surface and sometimes referred to as chrysolite and peridot. The major components of the Olivine mineral encompasses of magnesium, silicate and iron hence the formula (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. The Olivine mineral encompasses of series between two minerals that have diverse properties to ensure that the final product is a costal clear mental (Bristow & Peter 96). One of the two members that combine to the existence of the Olivine mineral is the Forsterite. Forsterite encompasses of magnesium components, which makes a small portion of the entire Olivine mineral.
Fig 1: A Picture of the Peridot Olivine Mineral
The chemical formula of the Forsterite is Mg2SiO4. Most composition of the Olivine mineral encompasses of the Fayalite traces. The Fayalite with the chemical formula Fe2SiO4 makes most of the crystal structure of the Olivine mineral (Gill 87). However, in most instances both the Fayalite and Forsterite components equally distributed in the Olivine mineral. For this reason, the Olivine mineral consists of diverse refractions that make it a unique structure from other minerals.
Fayalite consists of iron content, which in accordance to the crystal refraction is more powerful in color compared to the magnesium, which is less powerful in the refraction index. For this reason, the higher index of refraction of iron makes the Olivine mineral heavier than other minerals that lack the iron components. The presence of the iron traces in the Fayalite makes it to appear with a darker color compared to the forsterite (Varela 71). However, the two mineral components, which make up the Olivine mineral, fayalite and forsterite are difficult to distinguish.
The occurrence of the Olivine mineral varies with the diverse locations and elements that contribute to the existence of the mineral. The Olivines play a chief role in the process of the various rock layers in the surface of the earth. In most cases, the magnesium-rich olivines are the most profound type of the olivine mineral. The magnesium-rich olivines are commonly found in the ultramafic igneous rocks and low-silica mafic (Bristow & Peter 102). The abundant nature of the magnesium-rich olivines has ensured that most of the rocks surface in the earth’s surface has magnesium components. The upper earth’s mantle comprises the largest portion of the magnesium rich olivine mineral.
Fig 2: Table Indicating the Chemical and Physical Properties of Olivines Minerals
In addition to the major components of the Olivine mineral, magnesium and ferrous iron other compositions of the olivine mineral encompasses of tephroite, monticellite, kirschsteinite which are manganese, calcium-manganese and calcium-magnesium respectively. The gem-quality forsterite, which is the most common type of the olivine present in the earth’s core and easily mined. Since the peridot has a high melting point compared to other mental, it is resistance to chemical reagents and changes. This implies that it plays a key function in the chemical industries, which mostly focus on preparing chemicals (Bristow & Peter 123). The magnesium olivine is used in most factories and manufacturing industry that deals with the melting of other metals. This is for the key reason that the magnesium and ferrous olivine has a high refractive index. In most factories, the olivine materials play a chief role in the establishment of the furnace linings and kilns. During the heating and melting processes, the olivine increases the intensity of the heat.
Other diverse places that the Olivine mineral can easily be obtained and mined from encompass of the high temperatures, which imply that, the inner core of the earth. The iron-rich olivine is mostly deeply situated in the inner core of the earth’s strata layers (Gill 107). The metamorphic rocks, meteorites and lunar basalts also contain traces of olivine. This signifies that the composition of the Olivine mineral determines the location of the mineral. The magnesium rich olivine is extracted from the upper surface of the earth. However, in contrary, the iron rich olivine is obtained from deep within the inner strata of the earth’s layers.
The color of the Olivine mineral varies with the compositions that are present in the mineral hence varieties of colors are sometimes present in the mineral. Most of the Olivine mineral appear yellowish green in color because of the blend of the magnesium and the ferrous iron components. However, the percentage of the magnesium and the ferrous iron will either make the Olivine mineral appear to be Olive green and greenish black respectively (Bristow & Peter 123). Some of the Olivine mineral appear to be reddish brown especially when exposed to the presence of air and water hence the ferrous iron reacting to form the reddish brown solid. The Olivine mineral traces obtained from the lunar basalt and meteorites appear to be brittle fracture, which appear to be translucent in nature.
The Olivine mineral crystallized is a unique and crystal system known as orthorhombic, which is unknown and unfamiliar especially with the other minerals. Olivine minerals are associated with the nesosilicate class, which is categorized with the isolate and tetrahedrons bounds. The isolate and tetrahedrons bound to each other via the ionic bonds from the interstitial cations (Varela 131). For this reason, the structure of the olivine mineral is viewed to appear in resemblance with the layered closest-packed oxygen network. However, in some situations, the silicon irons inhabit some of the voids created by the tetrahedral formation of the ferrous iron, calcium and magnesium cations.
Fig 3: Illustrating the Atomic Structure of the Olivine Mineral
The layers of the Olivine minerals encompasses of various layers that are octahedrons, which are the major components of the outer layers. However, the inner layer encompasses of the octahedrons, which are closely linked with the tetrahedrons, which are independent in nature. The M1 and M2 are the diverse symmetrically shaped nonequivalent octahedral shapes of the Olivine minerals present in the entire universe. The M1 and M2 site preferences only exists in the Olivine minerals that have single components of either the magnesium and the ferric iron differently. However, the magnesium-iron Olivine mineral does not have the M1 and M2 preferences present (Gill 110).
The Olivine minerals have various uses and are one of the most adorable mineral in the entire world hence the increase demand. However, one of the key problems that are associated with the Olivine minerals is the weathering effect and nature of the mineral. The Olivine minerals are one weakest common mineral in the surface of the earth (Bristow & Peter 197). In accordance to the research conducted by the Goldich dissolution research, the Olivine minerals is easily weathers to another mineral when exposed to various unsuitable conditions. The key component that the Olivine minerals weather into is the iddingsite, which is a combination of iron oxides, traces of clay mineral and ferrihydrites. When the Olivine minerals is exposed to the presence of large amount of water in the earth’s surface, the mineral slowly but gradually weathers into the residue that is not suitable in application of any use (Varela 155).
In the earth’s surface, most of the oceanic floor consists is segments that encompass of the clay mineral and the iron oxide. This reveals that most of the volcanic activities that take place in the bedrock of the ocean eject the residue to the surface. Most of the deposits of the volcanic eruptions that take place in the ocean contribute to the emission of the Olivine minerals.
Fig 4: Indicating the Weathered Olivine Minerals into Iddingsite
However, since there is presence of plenty water at the base of the ocean, the Olivine minerals weathers at a faster rate hence changing its physical status to the iddingsite, which is of less value to the humans. The research performed by the NASA also indicates that there are traces of the iddingsite in the surface of Mars (Gill 128). This suggests that there are traces of water in the surface of mars since the Olivine minerals only turns into iddingsite at the presence of the liquid water.
The Olivine minerals has various uses that are a beneficial to the humanity race in the world today especially because of the increased innovation in technology. One of the key uses of the Olivine minerals is the fact that the presence of magnesium and ferrous iron makes the mineral to have a higher melting point. For this reason, various manufacturing organization utilize the Olivine minerals to reduce the amount of expenses used in maintaining high temperatures. The Olivine minerals are used in the factories to establish the walls of the furnaces and kilns, which are used in heating and boiling other chemicals (Varela 188). Since it has a higher melting point, the Olivine minerals do not melt but rather maintain a steady temperature for the heating process. The cost of burning fuel and use of electrify in heating is reduced since usage of the Olivine minerals will prevent energy loss to the environment.
An additional use of the Olivine minerals is the fact that the world especially the scientists in specific are investigating for a cheaper way of reducing the increased levels of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Various mineral reactions have been identified to sequester the level of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere hence promoting the existence of animals and humans in the earth’s surface for the future generation. The Olivine mineral is considered one of the cheapest ways since it is widely available and affordable compared to the other minerals (Bristow & Peter 136). The Olivine mineral is considered the best option of the mineral reaction to reduce the increasing amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This is for the key reason that the Olivine minerals reacts easily and at a faster rate with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The residue of the reaction which is the iddingsite is easily deposited basing on the fact that Olivine minerals weathers faster from the environment in presence of water which is plenty in the earth’s surface.
Although the Olivine minerals are beneficiary to the human race, it also posts some environmental hazards that are risky to both the human, animal and plant life. One of the key environmental hazards is the longtime exposure of the Olivine minerals to the liquid water hence the weathering process taking place. When the Olivine minerals is exposed to the water bodies, it weathers hence releasing various harmful components such as the silicates and other dangerous minerals into the water bodies (Varela 857). The water bodies are determined to be sources of life to human beings, animals and the plants. Pollution of the water sources with the weathering effects of the Olivine minerals makes the water impure hence not suitable for consumptions (Gill 144). For this reason, excessive exposure of the Olivine minerals to the available water bodies implies that the surrounding animals and living things will consume water that is polluted. In the human beings, long time effects such as cancerous effects will emerge hence slowly but gradually contributing to death hence loss of life.
Another environmental hazard that is associated with the Olivine minerals encompass of the fact that the eruption of the volcanic mountain releases the mineral inform of ash into the atmosphere. The continuous of the release of the ash into the atmosphere affects the nature of the atmosphere and the components of the air. Emission of the ash dust into the environment does not pose an immediate danger to the surrounding environment. However, continuous and repetitive volcanic eruptions throwing the ash dust that consists of the Olivine minerals to the atmosphere will definitely contribute to various dangers to the adjustment environment (Bristow & Peter 152). For instance, the ash dust will make the air contaminated hence inappropriate for the inhalation procedure by the living animals. Most of the animals depend on the air hence contaminating the air with the Olivine minerals ash dust will make it inappropriate for use.
The ash dust will also contribute to visual impairment especially if the eruption throwing the Olivine minerals ash dust is nearby to a highway. The presence of the ash dust in the atmosphere will affect the vision blurredness hence affecting the reaction of the people especially in judging the approximate of the traffic. However, the emission of the Olivine minerals ash dust into the environment is not a common experience hence occurs after a long time interval (Gill 161). For this reason, research indicates that the environmental hazards occurring from the Olivine minerals ash dust emitted from a volcanic eruption is rarely. However, it is appropriate for people to learn the environmental hazard to ensure that a healthy life is supported.
Works cited
Bristow, Colin M, and Peter W. Scott. Industrial Minerals and Extractive Industry Geology: Based on Papers Presented at the Combined 36th Forum on the Geology of Industrial Minerals and 11th Extractive Industry Geology Conference, Bath, England, 7th – 12th May, 2000. London: Geological Society, 2002. Print.
Gill, Robin. Igneous Rocks and Processes: A Practical Guide. Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Print.
Varela, M. E., Zinner, E., Kurat, G., Chu, H., & Hoppe, P. (2012). New insights into the formation of fayalitic olivine from Allende dark inclusions. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 47: 832–852.
