Pyroxene facts for kids

Pyroxenes are a group of important minerals that help form many different types of rocks. You can find them in igneous rocks, which are formed from cooled lava or magma, and in metamorphic rocks, which are rocks changed by heat and pressure deep inside the Earth.

A sample of pyroxenite, a rock consisting mostly of pyroxene minerals.

Pyroxene

All pyroxenes have a special structure made of single chains of silicon and oxygen atoms. Think of it like a long chain of tiny building blocks. Their basic chemical formula is XY(Si,Al)₂O₆. Here, X and Y are usually different metal atoms, like iron, magnesium, or calcium. While other minerals often have a lot of aluminum taking the place of silicon, pyroxenes usually have only a small amount.

Pyroxenite is a type of igneous rock that is made almost entirely of minerals from the pyroxene group. It's like a rock that's a pyroxene family reunion!

How Pyroxenes Are Built

The unique structure of pyroxenes comes from how their silicon and oxygen atoms connect. These atoms form strong chains. These chains are then linked together by metal atoms. This special arrangement gives pyroxenes their distinct properties. Scientists often study these structures to understand how rocks form and change.

Where Pyroxenes Are Found

Pyroxenes are very common minerals. They are found in many places around the world. They are a key part of the Earth's mantle, which is the thick layer of rock between the Earth's crust and its core. They are also found in many volcanic rocks. Because they are so common, studying pyroxenes helps scientists learn a lot about our planet's history and how it works.

Images for kids

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  A thin section of green pyroxene seen under a microscope.

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  A piece of rock from the Earth's mantle, found in Arizona, USA. It has green olivine (peridot), black orthopyroxene, and other crystals. The gray rock around it is basalt.

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  A single chain of silicon tetrahedra, showing how the atoms are linked.

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  Another view of a single chain of silica tetrahedra.

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  The structure of pyroxene, looking along the silica chains. The "I-beams" are outlined in green, and silicon atoms are shown larger to highlight the chains.

See also

In Spanish: Piroxeno para niños