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