Definition

1. Noun:
   • A dark-green to black glassy mineral of the pyroxene group: Augite is a specific type of rock-forming mineral. It is characterized by its dark color, glassy luster, and complex chemical composition rich in aluminum, iron, and magnesium.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The basalt sample contained prominent crystals of augite.
  • Under the microscope, the augite exhibited its characteristic prismatic cleavage.

Advanced Usage

• In petrology: Augite is a common mineral in mafic igneous rocks like basalt and gabbro.
  • The presence of augite helps geologists classify the rock as mafic.

Variants and Related Words

• Pyroxene (n): The broader group of silicate minerals to which augite belongs.
  • Augite is the most common clinopyroxene in the pyroxene group.

Synonyms

• Clinopyroxene: A more specific technical term for minerals like augite within the pyroxene group.

Related Terms

• Mineralogy: The scientific study of minerals, the field in which 'augite' is a key term.
• Silicate: The class of minerals, based on silicon and oxygen, to which augite belongs.

Noun

1. dark-green to black glassy mineral of the pyroxene group containing large amounts of aluminum and iron and magnesium