Chrysotile
Chrysotile is a known member of the Serpentine Group of minerals that also includes Antigorite and Lizardite. Chrysotile is scientifically divided into three individual minerals that crystallize in numerous formations: Clinochrysotile crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, Orthochrysotile and Parachrysotile crystallize in the crystal system that is orthorhombic. The term Chrysotile is sometimes also used to describe any form that is fibrous of. Chrysotile is frequently found as slim, yellow or golden fibrous, silky veins in massive medium to dark green Lizardite. This material can be made directly into very cabochons that are attractive.
Chrysotile distribution: undoubtedly of common incident in asbestos deposits, but requires characterization that is careful confirmation, which includes been accomplished at merely a few localities, such as: into the USA, from the Butler Estate chrome mine, Fresno County, and the Joe No. 5 pit, brand new Idria, San Benito County, California; into the Belvidere Mountain quarries, Lowell, Orleans County, Vermont; and from the Salt River Canyon, near Globe, Gila County, Arizona. At Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada. From Quilla, Charsadda Tehsil, Pakistan. In Australia, from Woodsreef, New South Wales.
| Category: | Phyllosilicates |
| Kaolinite-serpentine group | |
| Chemical Formula: | Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4 |
| Magnesium Silicate Hydroxide | |
| Molecular Weight: | 277.11 gm |
| Composition: | Magnesium | 26.31 % | Mg | 43.63 % | MgO |
| Silicon | 20.27 % | Si | 43.36 % | SiO2 | |
| Hydrogen | 1.45 % | H | 13.00 % | H2O | |
| Oxygen | 51.96 % | O | |||
| 100.00 % | 100.00 % | = TOTAL OXIDE |
| Crystallography: | Monoclinic – Prismatic |
| Crystal Habit: | Asbestiform, fibrous along [100], curled to cylindrical; also bladed, massive. |
| Twinning: | None |
| Cleavage: | None |
| Fracture: | Splintery |
| Tenacity: | Flexible |
| Moh’s Hardness: | 2.5 |
| Density: | 2.53 (g/cm3) |
| Luminescence: | None |
| Radioactivity: | Not Radioactive |
| Health Warning: | Fibrous varieties contain Asbestos. |
| Color: | Green, olive green, yellow or golden, white, brown, black |
| Transparency: | Translucent |
| Luster: | Silky in fibrous aggregates |
| Refractive Index: | 1.569 – 1.570 Biaxial (?) |
| Birefringence: | 0.001 |
| Dispersion: | r > v or r < v |
| Pleochroism: | n/a |
