Chrysotile
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Chrysotile was named in 1843 by Franz von Kobell from the Greek words chrysos for gold and tilos for fiber in allusion to its typical color and fibrous cystal habit.

Discovered in 1834; IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

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

Classification

Mineral Classification:

SILICATES (Germanates)

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/DX.00-00

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.ED.15

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
E : Phyllosilicates
D : Phyllosilicates with kaolinite layers composed of tetrahedral and octahedral nets

Related to:

Serpentine Group (subgroup of the Kaolinite-Serpentine Group). Polytypes: Clinochrysotile, Orthochrysotile, Parachrysotile. Polymorphous with Antigorite, Orthochrysotile, Lizardite, and Parachrysotile; may also be termed Chrysotile-2Mc1.

Members of Group:

Serpentine Group: Antigorite, Chrysotile, Lizardite.
Kaolinite-Serpentine Group: Amesite, Antigorite, Baumite, Berthierine, Brindleyite, Caryopilite, Chrysotile, Clinochrysotile, Cronstedtite, Dickite, Fraipontite, Greenalite, Halloysite, Kaolinite, Kellyite, Lizardite, Manandonite, Nacrite, Népouite, Odinite, Orthochrysotile, Parachrysotile, Pecoraite, Webskyite

Varieties:

Aluminian Chrysotile, Chrysotilasbest, Ishkildite

Synonyms:

α-Chrysotile, Asbestos, Bostonite, Canadian Asbestos, Clinochrysotile, Chrysotile-alpha, Cyphoîte, Karystiolite, Krysolith, Kuphoite, Kupholite, Lefkasbest, Lefkasbestos, Orthochrysotile, Parachrysotile, Picrosmine, Pikrosmin, White Asbestos

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

Asbestiform, fibrous along [100], curled to cylindrical; also bladed, massive. 

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

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.

Optical Properties

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

Occurances

Geological Setting:

Intermixed with Orthochrysotile in veinlets cutting Serpentinite.

Common Associations:

Biotite, Calcite, Chromite, Corundum, Garnets, Lizardite, Olivine, Talc Orthochrysotile

Common Impurities:

n/a

Type Locality:

Zloty Stok (Reichenstein), Ząbkowice District, Lower Silesia (Dolnośląskie), Poland

Year Discovered:

1834

View mineral photos:

Chrysotile Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Chrysotile is a member of the Serpentine Group of minerals that also includes Antigorite and Lizardite. Chrysotile is scientifically divided into three individual minerals that crystallize in different formations: Clinochrysotile crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, Orthochrysotile and Parachrysotile crystallize in the orthorhombic crystal system. The term Chrysotile is sometimes also used to describe any fibrous form of Serpentine. Chrysotile is often found as thin, yellow or golden fibrous, silky veins in massive medium to dark green Lizardite. This material can be made in to very attractive cabochons.

Chrysotile distribution: undoubtedly of common occurrence in asbestos deposits, but requires careful characterization for confirmation, which has been accomplished at only a few localities, such as: in the USA, from the Butler Estate chrome mine, Fresno County, and the Joe No. 5 pit, New Idria, San Benito County, California; in 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.
 

  
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