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Actinolite

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This article is about mineral. For the community in Ontario, Canada, see Actinolite, Ontario.

"Nephrite" redirects here. For the Sailor Moon character, see Shitennou.

Actinolite is an inosilicate mineral with the chemical formula
Ca₂(MgFe)₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂

1 Mineralogy
2 Occurrence
3 Details
4 Related minerals
5 References

[edit] Mineralogy

Actinolite is an intermediate member in a solid-solution series between tremolite (Mg-rich) and ferro-actinolite (Fe-rich) amphiboles. As seen from the chemical formula above, Mg and Fe ions can be freely exchanged in the crystal structure.

[edit] Occurrence

Actinolite is commonly found in metamorphic rocks, such as contact aureoles surrounding cooled intrusive igneous rocks. It also occurs as a product of metamorphism of magnesium-rich limestones.

The old mineral name uralite is at times applied to an alteration product of primary pyroxene by a mixture composed largely of actinolite. The metamorphosed gabbro or diabase rock bodies, referred to as epidiorite, contain a considerable amount of this uralitic alteration.

Some forms of asbestos are formed from fibrous actinolite, the fibres being so small that they can enter the lungs and damage the alveoli. Another form of actinolite, known as nephrite, is one of the two common constituents of jade (the other being jadeite).

[edit] Details

Crystallographic system	Monoclinic
Colours	Pale to dark green. White or grey when in asbestos form
Lustre	Vitreous to dull glassy
Hardness	5.5-6
Refractive index	1.61
Cleavage	2
Pleochroism	Yellow to dark green to transparent to opaque