Pyroxferroite

Pyroxferroite (Fe⁺²,Mn,Ca)SiO₃ is a silicate of the pyroxene group with a triclinic crystal structure. It has a hardness between 4.5 and 5.5, and is yellowish in colour.

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Occurrence

Pyroxferroite was first discovered in lunar rock samples from the Sea of Tranquillity during the Apollo missions between 1969 and 1972. Later, it was found in lunar and martian meteorites. It also occurs on Earth and has been found in the Isanago mine, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, Karnataka in South India and in northwest Queensland, Australia.

Name

Pyroxferroite is named from pyroxene and Latin ferrum iron, as the iron-rich analogue of pyroxmangite.