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Enstatite

A glassy, usually yellowish gray variety of orthorhombic pyroxene having a magnesium silicate base, mainly MgSiO₃, usually found embedded in igneous rocks and meteorites. A very common mineral but rare in crystal form. Often greyish green to greyish white, colorless, green brown or yellowish. Transparent to opaque.

The name given to the magnesian end member (MgSiO₃) of the orthorhombic pyroxene solid-solution series. The mineral is usually yellowish-gray, becoming greenish with a little iron present, and transparent in thin sections.

Enstatite is an important mineral in the upper mantle of the Earth, and coexists with clinopyroxene, garnet, olivine, and plagioclase. Enstatite, clinopyroxene, and garnet rocks called eherzolites are common in certain alpine mountain terrains and as nodules in some diamond-bearing rocks called kimberlites.

See also: Pyroxene.

Material Notes:
Ideal for high frequency, low loss, high voltage insulation. Much less expensive than alumina insulators.

Enstatite is relatively abundant, and localities are worldwide. However, a few notable occurrences are the Tilly Foster Mine, Brewster, Putnam Co., New York; the Wood's Mine, near Texas, Lancaster Co., Pennsylvania; the Bare Hills, near Baltimore, Maryland; Jackson Co., North Carolina; and Boulder Co., Colorado.

Common as rockbilding material in basic and ultrabasic rocks as gabbro, norite and peridotite. Insoluble in acids and almost infusible. Forms in association with diamonds in South Africa, and is also present in some meteorites.

Enstatite is lively, friendly, and can have a mood-lifting effect. It helps us to re-charge the body's flow of energy while keeping our feet firmly on the ground. It aligns the major chakras, and opens the Base, Solar Plexus, Throat, Third Eye and Crown. It can be used in regression work, including past life regression.

Applications: resistor forms, surge arrestors, standoffs, spacers, and coil forms.

Machinability: easily fabricated to close tolerances.

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