Olivine

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/olivine

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the mineral classification?Neso- or orthosilicate with the formula (Mg,Fe)2SiO4
2. What is the geological significance?Primary constituent of Earth's upper mantle
3. Why does peridot look green?Peridot, a type of olivine, gets its green color from tiny amounts of iron in its crystal structure. The more iron, the darker the green.
4. Where can we find olivine on Earth?Olivine is found deep in the Earth’s upper mantle, but it can also be seen on the surface when rocks are lifted or when volcanoes erupt.

Neso- or Orthosilicate: Minerals characterized by isolated SiO4 tetrahedra as the fundamental structural unit.
Solid Solution Series: A range of compositions within a mineral group where one element can substitute for another in the crystal lattice.
Rheology: The study of the flow of matter, particularly the deformation of materials under stress.
Refractory: Resistant to heat and capable of withstanding high temperatures without melting or deforming.