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Actinolite

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Actinolite

Malenco Valley, Valtellina, Sondrio Province, Lombardy, Italy
Actinolite

Dorferbach valley, Prägraten, Virgen valley, East Tyrol, Tyrol, Austria
Actinolite, etc.

Wenatchee Ridge, Lake Wenatchee, Chelan Co., Washington, USA
Actinolite

Malenco Valley, Valtellina, Sondrio Province, Lombardy, Italy
Actinolite

Dorferbach valley, Prägraten, Virgen valley, East Tyrol, Tyrol, Austria
Actinolite, etc.

Wenatchee Ridge, Lake Wenatchee, Chelan Co., Washington, USA
Actinolite

Malenco Valley, Valtellina, Sondrio Province, Lombardy, Italy
Actinolite

Dorferbach valley, Prägraten, Virgen valley, East Tyrol, Tyrol, Austria
Formula:
☐{Ca2}{Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
System:
Monoclinic
Colour:
Green, green-black, ...
Lustre:
Vitreous, Silky
Hardness:
5 - 6
Name:
Named in 1794 by Richard Kirwan from the Greek ακτίνα ("aktina") for "ray" and λίθος ("lithos") for "stone" in allusion to the fibrous nature of the original specimens.
Type locality not known.
Note: Tremolite is defined as having an Mg/(Mg+Fe2+) ratio ≥ 0.9; actinolite has a ratio of 0.5–0.9 and ferro-actinolite has a ratio of less than 0.5. The name actinolite was retained in the nomenclature, since it is entrenched in the literature.

As bladed crystals, to 15 cm; columnar, may be kinked or bent; radiating fibrous to asbestiform; granular to massive.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Actinolite.


Classification of Actinolite

IMA status:
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Notes:
Redefined by the IMA
First Published:
1794
Approval History:
Redefined by IMA in 2012 (special procedure).
Strunz 8th ed.:
8/F.10-20
Strunz 9th ed.:
9.DE.10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) ed.:
9.DE.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
E : Inosilicates with 2-periodic double chains, Si4O11; Clinoamphiboles
Hey's CIM Ref.:
14.23.2

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
23 : Silicates of Fe, Mg, Ca

Physical Properties of Actinolite

Lustre:
Vitreous, Silky
Diaphaneity (Transparency):
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Green, green-black, grey-green, or black
Comment:
Colourless, pale green to deep green in thin section.
Streak:
White
Hardness (Mohs):
5 - 6
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
on {110}
Parting:
on {100}
Fracture:
Splintery
Density:
3.03 - 3.24 g/cm3 (Measured)    3.07 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of Actinolite

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.613 - 1.646 nβ = 1.624 - 1.656 nγ = 1.636 - 1.666
2V:
Measured: 79° to 86°, Calculated: 78° to 82°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.023
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r < v
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
X= pale yellow, yellowish green
Y= pale yellow-gree, green
Z= pale green, deep greenish blue

Chemical Properties of Actinolite

Formula:
☐{Ca2}{Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
IMA Formula:
Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe2+0.5-2.5)Σ=5Si8O22(OH)2
Idealised Formula:
☐{Ca2}{(Mg,Fe2+)5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Elements listed in formula:
Ca, Fe, H, Mg, O, Si - search for minerals with similar chemistry
Common Impurities:
Mn,Al,Na,K,Ti

Crystallography of Actinolite

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Space Group Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.891 Å, b = 18.2 Å, c = 5.31 Å
β = 104.64°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.543 : 1 : 0.292
Unit Cell Volume:
V 924.85 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Twinning:
simple or lamellar, common parallel {100}; lamellar, less common parallel {001}
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
8.47 (70)
5.305 (10)
4.91 (70)
3.401 (80)
3.143 (70)
2.719 (100)
2.543 (100)
Comments:
ICDD 25-0157

Occurrences of Actinolite

Relationship of Actinolite to other Species

Series:
Forms a series with Tremolite (see here)
Forms a series with Ferro-actinolite (see here)
Member of:
Tremolite-actinolite series Group > Calcium Amphibole Subgroup > w(OH, F, Cl)-dominant Amphibole Group
Other Members of Group:
Ferro-actinolite☐{Ca2}{Fe52+}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Ferro-fluoro-actinolite☐{Ca2}{Fe5}(Si8O22)F2
Fluoro-tremolite☐{Ca2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)F2
Tremolite☐{Ca2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
Common Associates:
Albite
Chlorite Group
Epidote
Glaucophane
Lawsonite
Pumpellyite
Talc
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
9.DE.05Anthophyllite☐{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.05Cummingtonite☐{Mg2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.05Clino-holmquistite Root Name☐{Li2}{Z32+Z23+}(Si8O22)(OH,F,Cl)2
9.DE.05Grunerite☐{Fe22+}{Fe52+}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.05Manganocummingtonite☐{Mn22+}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.05Manganogrunerite☐{Mn22+}{Fe52+}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.05Permanganogrunerite☐{Mn22+}{Mn52+}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.05Ferro-fluoro-pedrizite{Na}{Li2}{Fe2Al2Li}(Al2Si6O22)F2
9.DE.05Ferri-fluoro-leakeite{Na}{Na2}{Mg2Fe23+Li}(Si8O22)F2
9.DE.10Ferri-tschermakite☐{Ca2}{Mg3Fe23+}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.10Ferro-actinolite☐{Ca2}{Fe52+}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.10Ferro-hornblende☐{Ca2}{Fe42+Al}(AlSi7O22)(OH)2
9.DE.10Ferro-tschermakite☐{Ca2}{Fe32+Al2}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.10Joesmithite{Pb}{Ca2}{Mg3Fe23+}(Be2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.10Magnesio-hornblende☐{Ca2}{Mg4Al}(AlSi7O22)(OH)2
9.DE.10Tremolite☐{Ca2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.10Tschermakite☐(Ca2)(Mg3Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.10CannilloiteCa(Ca2)(Mg4Al)(Al3Si5O22)(OH)2
9.DE.10Fluoro-cannilloite{Ca}{Ca2}{Mg4Al}(Al3Si5O22)(F,OH)2
9.DE.10Parvo-manganotremolite☐{CaMn2+}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.10Fluoro-tremolite☐{Ca2}{Mg5}(Si8O22)F2
9.DE.10Potassic-fluoro-pargasite{K}{Ca2}{Mg4Al}(Al2Si6O22)F2
9.DE.15Edenite{Na}{Ca2}{Mg5}(AlSi7O22)(OH)2
9.DE.15Ferro-edenite{Na}{Ca2}{Fe52+}(AlSi7O22)(OH)2
9.DE.15Ferro-kaersutite{Na}{Ca2}{Fe32+AlTi}(Al2Si6O22)O2
9.DE.15Ferro-pargasite{Na}{Ca2}{Fe42+Al}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.15Hastingsite{Na}{Ca2}{Fe42+Fe3+}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.15Kaersutite{Na}{Ca2}{Mg3AlTi}(Al2Si6O22)O2
9.DE.15Magnesio-hastingsite{Na}{Ca2}{Mg4Fe3+}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.15Pargasite{Na}{Ca2}{Mg4Al}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.15Sadanagaite{Na}{Ca2}{Mg3Al2}(Si5Al3O22)(OH)2
9.DE.15Fluoro-edenite{Na}{Ca2}{Mg5}(AlSi7O22)(F,OH)2
9.DE.15Potassic-ferro-ferri-sadanagaite{K}{Ca2}{Fe32+Fe23+}(Al3Si5O22)(OH)2
9.DE.15Potassic-sadanagaite{K}{Ca2}{Mg3Al2}(Al3Si5O22)(OH)2
9.DE.15Potassic-pargasite{K}{Ca2}{Mg4Al}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.15Potassic-ferro-sadanagaite{K}{Ca2}{Fe32+Al2}(Al3Si5O22)(OH)2
9.DE.15Magnesio-fluoro-hastingsite{Na}{Ca2}{Mg4Fe3+}(Al2Si6O22)F2
9.DE.15Potassic-fluoro-hastingsite{K}{Ca2}{Fe42+Fe3+}(Al2Si6O22)(F,OH)2
9.DE.15Potassic-chloro-hastingsite{K}{Ca2}{Fe42+Fe3+}(Al2Si6O22)(Cl,OH)2
9.DE.15Fluoro-pargasite{Na}{Ca2}{Mg4Al}(Al2Si6O22)(F,OH)2
9.DE.15Parvo-mangano-edenite{Na}{CaMn2+}{Mg5}(AlSi7O22)(OH)2
9.DE.15Potassic-chloro-pargasite{K}{Ca2}{Mg4Al}(Al2Si6O22)(Cl,OH)2
9.DE.15Potassic-ferro-chloro-edenite{K}{Ca2}{Fe52+}(AlSi7O22)(Cl,OH)2
9.DE.15Potassic-magnesio-hastingsite{K}{Ca2}{Mg4Fe3+}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.15Potassic-ferro-pargasite{K}{Ca2}{Fe42+Al}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.15Chromio-pargasite{Na}{Ca2}{Mg4Cr3+}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.20Ferro-taramiteNa(CaNa)(Fe32+Al2)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.20Barroisite☐{CaNa}{Mg3Al2}(AlSi7O22)(OH)2
9.DE.20Ferro-ferri-barroisite☐(CaNa)(Fe32+Fe23+)(AlSi7O22)(OH)2
9.DE.20Ferro-ferri-winchite☐[CaNa][Fe42+(Fe3+,Al)]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.20Ferri-barroisite☐(CaNa)(Mg3Fe23+)(AlSi7O22)(OH)2
9.DE.20Ferro-ferri-taramiteNa(CaNa)(Fe32+Fe23+)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.20Ferro-ferri-katophoriteNa(NaCa)(Fe42+Fe3+)(Si7Al)O22(OH)2
9.DE.20Ferro-barroisite☐{CaNa}{Fe32+Al2}(AlSi7O22)(OH)2
9.DE.20Ferro-richterite{Na}{CaNa}{Fe52+}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.20Ferro-winchite ☐{CaNa}{Fe42+Al}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.20Ferro-katophorite{Na}{CaNa}{Fe42+Al}[(AlSi7)O22](OH)2
9.DE.20Ferri-taramiteNa(CaNa)(Mg3Fe23+)(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.20Magnesiotaramite{Na}{CaNa}{Mg3AlFe3+}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.20Richterite{Na}{NaCa}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.20Winchite☐{CaNa}{Mg4Al}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.20Taramite{Na}{CaNa}{Mg3Al2}(Al2Si6O22)(OH)2
9.DE.20Fluoro-richterite{Na}{CaNa}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(F,OH)2
9.DE.20Katophorite{Na}{CaNa}{Mg4Al}[(AlSi7)O22](OH)2
9.DE.20Potassic-fluoro-richterite{K}{CaNa}{Mg5}(Si8O22)(F,OH)2
9.DE.20Potassic-richteriteK[CaNa][Mg5]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.20Ferri-ghoseite☐[Mn2+Na][Mg4Fe3+]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.20Ferri-winchite☐[CaNa][Mg4(Fe3+,Al)]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.20Fluoro-taramite{Na}{CaNa}{Mg3Al2}(Al2Si6O22)F2
9.DE.25Arfvedsonite[Na][Na2][Fe42+Fe3+]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25EckermanniteNaNa2(Mg4Al}Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25Ferro-eckermanniteNaNa2(Fe42+Al)Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25Ferro-glaucophane◻[Na2][Fe32+Al2]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25Glaucophane◻[Na2][Mg3Al2]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25Potassic-mangani-leakeite[(Na,K)][Na2][Mg2Mn23+Li]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25Mangano-ferri-eckermannite[Na][Na2][Mn42+(Fe3+)]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25Ferri-leakeite[Na][Na2][Mg2Fe23+Li]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25Magnesio-riebeckite◻{Na2}{Mg3Fe23+}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.25Magnesio-arfvedsonite{Na}{Na2}{Mg4Fe3+}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.25NybøiteNaNa2(Mg3Al2)(AlSi7O22)(OH)2
9.DE.25Riebeckite◻[Na2][Fe32+Fe23+]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25Mangano-mangani-ungarettiiteNaNa2(Mn22+Mn33+)(Si8O22)O2
9.DE.25Ferro-ferri-nybøiteNaNa2[(Fe32+,Mg)Fe23+](AlSi7O22)(OH)2
9.DE.25Clino-ferro-ferri-holmquistite◻{Li2}{Fe32+Fe23+}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.25Ferri-nybøiteNaNa2(Mg3Fe23+](AlSi7O22)(OH)2
9.DE.25Ferro-ferri-leakeite[Na][Na2][Fe22+Fe23+Li]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25Ferro-ferri-fluoro-leakeiteNa(Na2)(Fe22+Fe23+Li)(Si8O22)(F)2
9.DE.25Sodic-ferri-clinoferroholmquistiteNa0.5{Li2}{Fe32+Fe23+}(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.25Magnesio-fluoro-arfvedsonite[Na][Na2][Mg4Fe3+][Si8O22](F,OH)2
9.DE.25Ferri-pedrizite[Na][Li2][Mg2Fe23+Li]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25Potassic-ferri-leakeite[K][Na2][Mg2Fe23+Li]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25Fluoro-nybøiteNaNa2(Mg3Al2)(AlSi7O22)(F,OH)2
9.DE.25Mangani-dellaventuraite{Na}{Na2}{MgMn23+LiTi4+}Si8O22O2
9.DE.25Fluoro-pedriziteNaLi2(Mg2Al2Li)(Si8O22)F2
9.DE.25Potassic-arfvedsonite[(K,Na)][Na2][Fe42+Fe3+]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25Mangani-obertiiteNa(Na2)(Mg3Mn3+Ti)(Si8O22)O2
9.DE.25Potassic-magnesio-fluoro-arfvedsonite[(K,Na)][Na2][Mg4Fe3+][Si8O22][(F,OH)2]
9.DE.25Ferro-ferri-pedrizite[Na][Li2][Fe22+Fe23+Li]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25Potassic-magnesio-arfvedsonite[K][Na2][Mg4Fe3+]Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25PedriziteNaLi2(LiMg2Al2)(Si8O22)(OH)2
9.DE.25Ferro-pedriziteNaLi2(Fe22+Al2Li)Si8O22(OH)2
9.DE.25Fluoro-leakeiteNaNa2(Mg2Al2Li)(Si8O22)F2
9.DE.25Ferro-ferri-obertiiteNaNa2(Fe32+Fe3+Ti)Si8O22O2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
14.23.1Pigeonite(Mg,Fe2+,Ca)(Mg,Fe2+)Si2O6

Other Names for Actinolite

Synonyms:

Actinolithe

Actynolite

Attinoto

Stibolite

Stralite

Zillerthite

Zillertite

Name in Other Languages:
Basque:Aktinolita
Czech:Aktinolit
Finnish:Aktinoliitti
French:Actinote
Hungarian:Aktinolit
Japanese:緑閃石
Latvian:Aktinolīts
Low Saxon:Aktinolith
Polish:Aktynolit
Portuguese:Actinolita
Serbian (Cyrillic Script):Актинолит
Simplified Chinese:阳起石
Slovak:Aktinolit
Swedish:Aktinolit
Varieties:

Smaragdite

Other Information

Health Risks:
Dust from asbestiform varieties of actinolite can cause serious and irreversible lung disease when inhaled. Avoid creating or inhaling dust.

Actinolite in petrology

An essential component of (items highlighted in red)
Common component of (items highlighted in red)
Accessory component of (items highlighted in red)

References for Actinolite

Reference List:
Kirwan, R. (1794) 16th species: actynolite. in Elements of Mineralogy, 2nd Edition, Volume 1, Elmsly (London) 167-170.

Hawthorne, F.C. (1983) The crystal chemistry of the amphiboles; Introduction. The Canadian Mineralogist: 21: 174.

Hawthorne, F.C. (1983) The crystal chemistry of the amphiboles; Classification and nomenclature. The Canadian Mineralogist: 21: 175-176.

Mandarino, J.A. (1998) The Second List of Additions and Corrections to the Glossary of Mineral Species (1995). The Amphibole Group. Mineralogical Record: 29: 169-174.

Hawthorne, F.C., Oberti, R. (2006) On the classification of amphiboles. The Canadian Mineralogist: 44: 1-21.

Internet Links for Actinolite

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