Formula: CaMgSi₂O₆

Species:

Colour: Light to dark green, blue, brown, colourless, snow white, grey, pale violet

Lustre: Vitreous, Dull

Hardness: 5½ – 6½

Specific Gravity: 3.22 – 3.38

Crystal System: Monoclinic

Member of: Clinopyroxene Subgroup > Pyroxene Group One of the most common members of the pyroxene group. Often occurs in metamorphosed limestones (marbles) as generally pale greenish to greyish green crystals, masses and blebs/grains associated with humite-group minerals, spinel, phlogopite, tremolite and grossular. Can also be pure white and not distinguishable from the enclosing carbonate. Often fluorescent bright powder blue.
Name: Named in 1806 by Rene Just Haüy from the Greek δις- for “double” (or even better for “twice”) and όψις” (or “ὄψις” in ancient Greek) – for “appearance”, in allusion to two possible orientations of the prism zone.

Co-Type Localities: Piedmont, Italy. Ala Valley, Lanzo Valleys, Metropolitan City of Turin, Piedmont – Italy