hornblende etymology

Etymology and Meaning:

The term "hornblende" derives from the German word "hornblende," a compound of "horn" (horn or substance similar to horn) and "blende" (blend, deception). The name alludes to the mineral's resemblance to the horn of an animal and its tendency to form intergrowths or blends with other minerals.

Origin:

The term "hornblende" was first used by the German mineralogist and geologist Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1789 to describe a dark, prismatic mineral found in gneissic rocks. Werner believed that hornblende was a distinct mineral species, but later research revealed that it was a group of minerals with a similar chemical composition and crystal structure.

Chemical Composition and Variations:

Hornblende is a complex silicate mineral with a general chemical formula of Ca2(Mg,Fe,Al)5(Si,Al)8O22(OH)2. It is a variably colored mineral, ranging from green to black, due to variations in its chemical components. The most common varieties of hornblende are:

  • Common hornblende: Contains significant amounts of magnesium and iron
  • Ferrohornblende: Rich in iron
  • Magnesium hornblende: Rich in magnesium
  • Tschernickite: Rich in titanium
  • Actinolite: Low in iron and rich in calcium and magnesium

Hornblende is a common constituent of igneous and metamorphic rocks and is found in a wide variety of geological settings.

hornblende relate terms

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