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Olivine: A relatively common non-mineral composed of two other minerals, called fayalite and forsterite. The chemical structure for olivine is (Mg,Fe)2SiO4. The comma placed between magnesium and iron tells us that the two minerals trade the magnesium and iron atoms with each other, and its hard to distinguish single elements. Also known as peridot.

Image can be found at Minerals.



Omasum: The third stomach in ruminants. The image to the right (courtesy of Seattle PI) shows a simple cartoon of cow digestion, and is labeled as follows:

  1. The cow eats some grass.
  2. The grass is passed onto the rumen and the reticulum where it is softened.
  3. The softened grass is passed back up to the mouth as cud, which the cow chews up and then passes to the third stomach, the omasum.
  4. Nutrients are absorbed in both the omasum and the fourth stomach, the abomasum.
  5. Finally, the stuff leftover is expelled as waste.


Order: A taxonomic division that is above family and below class.


Organelle: Any component of the eukaryotic cell contained within the cytoplasm that perform certain functions for the cell. Examples include the nucleus and ribosomes.


Organic: Anything that contains carbon.


Ovary: For any organism that reproduces sexually, the ovaries are a female reproductive gland that produce gametes.


Ovule: In flowering plants, the ovule develops into a seed after fertilization.


Oxidation: Any chemical reaction with oxygen.