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Chrysotile

Big Photo

Globe, Globe Hills, Globe Hills District, Globe-Miami District, Gila Co., Arizona, USA
© 2003 John H. Betts

Show Chrysotile Photos (39)
Formula:
Mg
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
System:MonoclinicColour:Green
Lustre:SilkyHardness:2½


Polytypes are clinochrysotile, orthochrysotile, and parachrysotile.
Lizardite and antigorite are closely related Serpentine Group species.

Classification of Chrysotile

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/DX.00-00
Strunz 9th edition ID:9.ED.15
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.ED.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
D : Phyllosilicates with kaolinite layers composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets
Dana 8th edition ID:71.1.5.1

71 : PHYLLOSILICATES Sheets of Six-Membered Rings
1 : Sheets of 6-membered rings with 1:1 layers
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.4.4

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
4 : Silicates of Mg
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Type Occurrence of Chrysotile

Type Locality:Zloty Stok (Reichenstein), Lower Silesia (Dolnośląskie), Poland

Physical Properties of Chrysotile

Lustre:Silky
Colour:Green
Hardness (Mohs):2½

Crystallography of Chrysotile

Crystal System:Monoclinic

Optical Data of Chrysotile

Type:Biaxial
RI values: nα = 1.569 nγ = 1.570
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.001

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r > v or r < v

Chemical Properties of Chrysotile

Formula:
Mg
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
Essential elements:H, Mg, O, Si
All elements listed in formula:H, Mg, O, Si

Relationship of Chrysotile to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.ED.05Dickite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Kaolinite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Nacrite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.05Odinite
(Fe,Mg,Al,Fe,Ti,Mn)
 
2.4
(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.10Halloysite
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.10Hisingerite
Fe
3+
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
9.ED.10Halloysite-7Å
Al
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Amesite
Mg
 
2
Al[(OH)
 
4
|AlSiO
 
5
]
9.ED.15Antigorite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
5
]
9.ED.15Berthierine
(Fe,Fe,Mg)
 
2-3
(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Brindleyite
(Ni,Mg,Fe)
 
2
Al(Si,Al)O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Caryopilite
(Mn,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Cronstedtite
Fe
2+
2
Fe
3+
 
[(Si,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
5
](OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Fraipontite
(Zn,Al)
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|(Si,Al)
 
2
O
 
5
]
9.ED.15Greenalite
Fe
 
2-3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Kellyite
Mn
2+
2
Al[(OH)
 
4
|AlSiO
 
5
]
9.ED.15Lizardite
Mg
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
5
]
9.ED.15Manandonite
LiAl
 
4
Si
 
3
BO
 
10
(OH)
 
6
9.ED.15Népouite
(Ni,Mg)
 
3
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.15Pecoraite
Ni
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
5
]
9.ED.20Allophane
(Al
 
2
O
 
3
)(SiO
 
2
)
 
1.3-2
·2.5-3H
 
2
O
9.ED.20Chrysocolla
(Cu,Al)
 
2
H
 
2
Si
 
2
O
 
5
(OH)
 
4
·nH
 
2
O
9.ED.20Imogolite
Al
 
2
SiO
 
3
(OH)
 
4
9.ED.20Neotocite
(Mn,Fe,Mg)SiO
 
3
·H
 
2
O
9.ED.25Bismutoferrite
Fe
3+
2
Bi[OH|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
9.ED.25Chapmanite
Fe
3+
2
Sb
3+
 
[OH|(SiO
 
4
)
 
2
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.4.1Forsterite
Mg
 
2
[SiO
 
4
]
14.4.2Enstatite
Mg
 
2
[SiO
 
3
]
 
2
14.4.3Clinoenstatite
Mg
 
2
[Si
 
2
O
 
6
]
14.4.5Clinochrysotile
14.4.6Orthochrysotile
14.4.7Parachrysotile
14.4.8Lizardite
Mg
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
5
]
14.4.9Talc
Mg
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
14.4.10Spadaite
MgSiO
 
2
(OH)
 
2
·H
 
2
O
14.4.11Sepiolite
Mg
 
4
Si
 
6
O
 
15
(OH)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
14.4.12Loughlinite
Na
 
2
Mg
 
3
Si
 
6
O
 
16
·8H
 
2
O
14.4.13Eifelite
KNa
 
3
Mg
 
4
Si
 
12
O
 
30
14.4.14Stevensite
(Ca,Na)
 
x
Mg
 
3
Si
 
4
O
 
10
(OH)
 
2
14.4.15Antigorite
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
4
|Si
 
2
O
 
5
]
14.4.16 Magnesio-anthophyllite

Other Names for Chrysotile

Synonyms:
α-ChrysotileBostoniteCanadian asbestosChrysotile-alphaCyphoîte
KarystioliteKrysolithKuphoiteKupholiteLefkasbest
LefkasbestosPicrosminePikrosminSchweizeriteWhite Asbestos
Other Languages:
German:Bostonit
Chrysotil
Karystiolit
Kuphoit
Kupholit
Schweizerit
Spanish:Bostonita
Karystiolita
Kuphoita
Kupholita
Varieties:
Aluminian ChrysotileIshkildite

Polytypes for Chrysotile

Polytypes:
ClinochrysotileOrthochrysotileParachrysotile

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Chrysotile

Reference List:Whittaker, E.J.W. (1953) The structure of chrysotile. Acta Crystallographica: 6: 747-748.

Whittaker, E.J.W. (1956a) The structure of chrysotile . II. Clinochrysotile. Acta Crystallographica: 9: 855-862.

Whittaker, E.J.W. (1956b) The structure of chrysotile . III. Orthochrysotile. Acta Crystallographica: 9: 862-864.

Whittaker, E.J.W. (1956b) The structure of chrysotile . IV. Parachrysotile. Acta Crystallographica: 9: 865-867.

Yada, K. (1971) Study of microstructure of chrysotile asbestos by high-resolution electron microscope. Acta Crystallographica: 27: 659-664.

Wicks, F.J. (1979) Mineralogy, chemistry and crystallography of chrysotile asbestos. Section I, Part B. In: Mineralogical Techniques of Asbestos Determination (R.L. Ledoux, ed.). Mineralogical Association of Canada, Short Course Handbook 4: 35-78.

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    Localities for Chrysotile

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