pirokseenit

Pirokseenit is a proposed mineral name that appears in some speculative discussions within mineralogy to denote a hypothetical pyroxene-like silicate mineral. It is not widely recognized as a distinct mineral by the International Mineralogical Association, and there is no widely accepted description in the standard mineralogical literature. Because of this, pirokseenit is often treated as a theoretical end-member or a placeholder in discussions of pyroxene diversity.

If it exists, pirokseenit would belong to the pyroxene group, sharing the single-chain inosilicate structure with a general formula XYSi2O6, where X and Y are metal cations such as Mg, Fe, Ca, or Al. Crystallography would likely be monoclinic or orthorhombic, with two cleavage planes at near 90 degrees and a prismatic habit characteristic of pyroxenes.

Speculative formation environments include ultramafic and mafic rocks, where pyroxenes form, or high-temperature metamorphic rocks under specific chemical conditions that favor pyroxene-rich phases. In models, pirokseenit could represent a distinct end-member or a solid-solution component within pyroxene assemblages.

Because no confirmed natural samples exist, physical properties are hypothetical. In line with pyroxenes, pirokseenit would be expected to have a Mohs hardness around 5–6, a vitreous to submetallic luster, and two cleavage directions at about 90 degrees. Optical properties would be typical of silicates, with moderate refractive indices.

The name combines the common mineral-root related to pyroxene with the -ite suffix, following standard mineral-naming conventions. The term is used primarily in theoretical discussions and is not established as a validated mineral species in current databases. See also: pyroxene, pyroxenite, silicate minerals.