What is "pyroxferroite"

n. (context mineralogy English) A yellowish silicate of the pyroxene group with a triclinic crystal structure.

Pyroxferroite (Fe,Ca)SiO is a single chain inosilicate. It is mostly composed of iron, silicon and oxygen, with smaller fractions of calcium and several other metals. Together with armalcolite and tranquillityite, it is one of the three minerals which were discovered on the Moon. It was then found in Lunar and Martian meteorites as well as a mineral in the Earth's crust. Pyroxferroite can also be produced by annealing synthetic clinopyroxene at high pressures and temperatures. The mineral is metastable and gradually decomposes at ambient conditions, but this process can last billions of years.