The weathering reactions of an #olivine like #forsterite and fayalite into serpentine in the presence of water, and also pyroxenes like #enstatite into talc and magnesian chlorite. Serpentine’s Mg:Si ratio is 3:2, in between forsterite’s 2:1 and enstatite’s 1:1.
on 02015-08-30“#Forsterite, (Mg2SiO4) because of its exceptionally high fracture toughness, which is close to that of cortical bones, has been nominated as a possible successor to calcium phosphate bioceramics.”
on 02015-08-30No, wait, "forsterite" (an #olivine; Mohs hardness 7! Gemstone peridot!) is magnesium silicate, Mg₂SiO₄. I thought that was talc? Apparently talc is hydrated, so I’m guessing that precipitating #waterglass with magnesium is going to give you something more like talc than like forsterite, which also has a 2:1 Mg:Si ratio, compared to talc’s 3:4 Mg:Si ratio; so baking out the water probably wouldn’t be enough. #Refractory #materials: doesn’t melt until 1900°! (And iron ions, but only iron(II) ions, can replace the magnesium in any concentration.) But wait! There’s #enstatite! #materials #minerals
on 02015-08-30