Hypersthene

Hypersthene the name for intermediate members of the enstatite-ferrosilite-series, which belongs to the pyroxenes.

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^{Hypersthene from Paul´s Island, Canada}

Origin of name: from Greek ὑπέρ hyper „above“ and σθένος sthenos „power, strength“ indicating hypersthenes greater hardness compared to the chemically related and similar looking bronzite or, according to another source, to hornblende, an amphibole mineral which hypersthene is often confused with

Synonyms and trade names: labrador hornblende, paulite (after Paul´s Island, off the coast of Labrador), rarely germarite, hyperite or ferric enstatite

Locations: found on all continents including Antarctica. Important sources are Paul´s Island, Canada and Sludjanka at Lake Baikal, Sibiria, Russia.
Hypersthene has also been found in iron meteorites

Handling: hypersthene cleaves perfectly in two directions, is not overly hard and very sensitive towards fluoric and hydrochloric acids

Worth knowing: hypersthene was listed as a mineral of its own right until 1988 when it was recognized as a member of the enstatite-ferrosillite-series by the IMA (International Mineralogical Association).

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