Where is Hypersthene found?
Hypersthene
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Open the appHypersthene occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Hypersthene
Labrador, Canada
Known for producing large, high-quality hypersthene crystals, often with a strong schiller effect.
Norway
Occurs in various mafic and ultramafic intrusions and metamorphic rocks.
Sweden
Found in similar geological settings as Norway.
United States (Adirondack Mountains, New York)
Present in granulite facies metamorphic rocks and anorthosites.
India
Occurs in charnockites and other high-grade metamorphic rocks.
Sri Lanka
Found in metamorphic terrains, sometimes as gem-quality material.
Collecting tips
- Target Mafic/Ultramafic Rocks. Focus your search on areas known for gabbros, norites, pyroxenites, and anorthosites, as hypersthene is a primary constituent of these igneous rocks.
- Look for High-Grade Metamorphic Terrains. Granulite and charnockite facies metamorphic rocks are also excellent places to find hypersthene.
- Identify Schiller/Chatoyancy. The distinctive bronze-like schiller or chatoyancy on cleavage surfaces is a key identifying feature. Rotate specimens under light to observe this effect.
- Check for Orthopyroxene Cleavage. Look for two perfect cleavage planes intersecting at approximately 90 degrees, characteristic of orthopyroxenes.
- Examine Dark, Prismatic Crystals. Hypersthene typically forms dark, prismatic crystals, often with a somewhat rectangular cross-section.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Dark brown to black, often with a bronze sheen.
- Luster:
- Vitreous to pearly, with common submetallic schiller.
- Streak:
- Grayish-white to pale brown.
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