Actinolite Mineral Data

[Mineral Galleries] [About Me] [e-Bay Items] [Latest News] [How to Order]
A Diverse Selection of Beautifully Unique Gem & Mineral Specimens
Desert Winds Gems & Minerals • For All Levels of Collectors Worldwide
Aesthetic & Rare Mineral Specimens • Regular Updates

General Actinolite Information

Chemical Formula:

Ca2(Mg,Fe++)5Si8O22(OH)2

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 853.16 gm

Sodium 0.59 % Na 0.80 % Na₂O

Calcium 8.60 % Ca 12.03 % CaO

Magnesium 9.71 % Mg 16.11 % MgO

Titanium 0.11 % Ti 0.19 % TiO₂

Manganese 0.13 % Mn 0.17 % MnO

Aluminum 1.39 % Al 2.63 % Al₂O₃

Iron 8.58 % Fe 10.61 % FeO / 0.47 % Fe₂O₃

Silicon 25.64 % Si 54.86 % SiO₂

Hydrogen 0.24 % H 2.11 % H₂O

Oxygen 45.01 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 99.97 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Ca_1.83Na_0.22Mg_3.41Fe²⁺_1.26Al_0.23Fe³⁺_0.05Mn²⁺_0.02Ti_0.02Si_7.79Al_0.21O₂₂(OH)₂

Environment:

Metamorphic rocks.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1794

Locality:

Common world wide. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

From the Greek, aktinos, meaning "ray" in allusion to actinolite's fibrous nature.

Name Pronunciation:

Actinolite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

Byssolite

Hexagonite (Mn)

ICSD 24900

Mountain Leather

Nephrite Jade

PDF 41-1366

Smaragdite - emerald green

Actinolite Image

Images:

Actinolite

Comments: Sharp, floater actinolite crystal with a slight green tint.
Location: Namibian dessert, more or less due West of Uis, Namibia. Scale: 8.5 x 2.5 x 2 cm.
© Fabre Minerals

Actinolite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.5436:1:0.2917

Cell Dimensions:

a = 9.84, b = 18.1, c = 5.28, Z = 2; beta = 104.7° V = 909.61 Den(Calc)= 3.11

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: C 2/m

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 8.38(1), 3.12(1), 2.71(0.9),

Crystal Structure:

Mouse
drag1 - LMB Manipulate Structure
drag2 - RMB Resize/Rotate
Keyboard
S - Stereo Pair on/off
H - Help Screen
I - Data Info
A - Atoms On/Off
P - Polyhedra On/Off
B - Bonds On/Off
Help on Above

Evans B W , Yang H , American Mineralogist , 83 (1998) p.458-475, Fe-Mg order-disorder in tremolite-actinolite-ferro-actinolite at ambient, and high temperature, Sample: NMNH 93728 from Greiner, Zillertal, Austria in act-talc rock

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Actinolite
[1] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Physical Properties of Actinolite

Cleavage:

{110} Perfect, {110} Perfect

Color:

Green, Green black, Gray green, Black.

Density:

2.98 - 3.1, Average = 3.04

Diaphaneity:

Translucent to transparent

Fracture:

Splintery - Thin, elongated fractures produced by intersecting good cleavages or partings (e.g. hornblende).

Habit:

Bladed - Aggregates of thin lath-like crystals (e.g. kyanite).

Habit:

Fibrous - Crystals made up of fibers.

Habit:

Radial - Crystals radiate from a center without producing stellar forms (e.g. stibnite)

Hardness:

5.5 - Knife Blade

Luminescence:

Non-fluorescent.

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Actinolite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.002 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= 0.021 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.2039,KPDmeas= 0.2086,KC= 0.2082
Ncalc = 1.62 - 1.65

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.613-1.628, b=1.627-1.644, g=1.638-1.655, bire=0.0250-0.0270, 2V(Calc)=78-82, 2V(Meas)=84-73. Dispersion r < v.

Pleochroism (x):

very pale yellow, colorless, pale brown, or light green.

Pleochroism (y):

greenish yellow, pale yellow green, pale brown, or bluish green.

Pleochroism (z):

pale green, green, dark green, or pale bluish green.

Calculated Properties of Actinolite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.02 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Actinolite =3.04 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.02
Boson Index = 0.98

Photoelectric:

PE_Actinolite= 4.88 barns/electron
U=PE_Actinolite x rElectron Density= 14.73 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Actinolite is Not Radioactive

Actinolite Classification

Dana Class:

66.01.03a.02 (66)Inosilicate Double-Width Unbranched Chains, W=2

(66.01)with P=2 amphibole configuration

(66.01.03a)Group 2, the calcic amphiboles

66.01.03a.01 Tremolite []Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.02 Actinolite Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.03 Ferro-actinolite []Ca2Fe5Si8O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.04 Magnesiohornblende Ca2[Mg4(Al,Fe)]Si7AlO22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.05 Ferrohornblende []Ca2[Fe4(Al,Fe)]Si7AlO22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.06 Tschermakite []Ca2(Mg3AlFe)Si6Al2O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.06a Aluminoferrotschermakite! []Ca2(Fe2)3Al2(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.06b Ferri-ferrotschermakite! []Ca2(Fe2)3(Fe3)2(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.06c Ferrotschermakite! []Ca2(Fe3AlFe)Si6Al2O22(OH) C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.07 Ferro-aluminotschermakite* Ca2Fe3Al2(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.08 Ferritschermakite Ca2(Fe,Mg)3Al2(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.09 Ferroferritschermakite* Ca2(Fe,Mg)3Fe2(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.10 Edenite NaCa2Mg5Si7AlO22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.10a Fluoro-edenite! NaCa2Mg5Si7AlO22(F,OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.11 Ferro-edenite NaCa2Fe5Si7AlO22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.12 Pargasite NaCa2(Mg,Fe)4Al(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.12a Potassicpargasite! (K,Na)Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH,F)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.13 Ferropargasite NaCa2(Fe4Al)Si6Al2O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.13a Ferrochloropargasite! NaCa2(Fe4Al)Si6Al2O22Cl2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.13b Potassic-chloropargasite! (K,Na)Ca2(Mg,Fe2)4Al(Si6Al2O22)(Cl,OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.13c Potassic-ferropargasite KCa2(Fe4Al)Si6Al2O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.14 Magnesiohastingsite NaCa2(Mg4Fe)Si6Al2O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.15 Hastingsite NaCa2(Fe4Fe)Si6Al2O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.15a Potassic-chlorohastingsite! (K,Na)Ca2(Fe,Mg)4Fe[Si6Al2O22](Cl,OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.15b Fluoro-magnesiohastingsite! (Na,K)Ca2(Mg,Fe,Ti)5(Si,Al)8O22F2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.15c Potassic-magnesiohastingsite! (K,Na)Ca2(Mg,Fe,Fe,Al)5(Si,Al)8O22(OH,Cl)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.15d Chloro-potassichastingsite! KCa2(Fe3MgFe)(Si6Al2)S8O22Cl2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.15e Fluoro-potassichastingsite! KCa2(Fe2,Mg2,Fe)S5(Si6Al2)8O22F2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.16 Potassic-magnesiosadanagaite (K,Na)Ca2(Mg,Fe,Al,Ti)5[(Si,Al)8O22](OH)2 C 2,Cm,C 2/m Mono

66.01.03a.17 Sadanagaite (K,Na)Ca2(Fe,Mg,Al,Ti)5[(Si,Al)8O22](OH)2 C 2,Cm,C 2/m Mono

66.01.03a.17a Potassicsadanagaite! (K,Na)Ca2[Fe3(Al,Fe)2][Si5Al3O22](OH)2 C 2,Cm,C 2/m Mono

66.01.03a.17b Potassicferrisadanagaite! (K,Na)Ca2(Fe,Mg)2(Fe,Al)2[Si5Al3O22](OH,F,O)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.17c Magnesiosadanagaite! NaCa2[Mg3(Al,Fe)2]Si5AlO22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.18 Kaersutite NaCa2(Mg4Ti)Si6Al2O23(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.19 Ferrokaersutite NaCa2(Fe4Ti)Si6Al2O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.20 Fluorocannilloite! CaCa2(Mg4Al)Si5Al3O22F2 C 2/m 2/m

66.01.03a.20a Cannilloite! CaCa2Mg4Al(Si5Al3)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

09.DE.10 09 - SILICATES (Germanates)

09.D - Inosilicates* Structural terminology according to Liebau (1985)

09.DE -Inosilicates with 2-periodic double chains, Si4O11; amphibole family

09.DE.10 Ferritschermakite Ca2(Fe,Mg)3Al2(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Ferro-actinolite []Ca2Fe5Si8O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Aluminoferrotschermakite! []Ca2(Fe2)3Al2(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Edenite NaCa2Mg5Si7AlO22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Ferri-ferrotschermakite! []Ca2(Fe2)3(Fe3)2(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Actinolite Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Cannilloite! CaCa2Mg4Al(Si5Al3)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Fluorocannilloite! CaCa2(Mg4Al)Si5Al3O22F2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Ferrohornblende []Ca2[Fe4(Al,Fe)]Si7AlO22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Ferrokaersutite NaCa2(Fe4Ti)Si6Al2O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Ferro-edenite NaCa2Fe5Si7AlO22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Ferro-aluminotschermakite* Ca2Fe3Al2(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Potassic-magnesiosadanagaite (K,Na)Ca2(Mg,Fe,Al,Ti)5[(Si,Al)8O22](OH)2 C 2,Cm,C 2/m Mono

09.DE.10 Fluoro-edenite! NaCa2Mg5Si7AlO22(F,OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Hastingsite NaCa2(Fe4Fe)Si6Al2O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Ferrotschermakite! []Ca2(Fe3AlFe)Si6Al2O22(OH) C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Ferroferritschermakite* Ca2(Fe,Mg)3Fe2(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Ferropargasite NaCa2(Fe4Al)Si6Al2O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Joesmithite PbCa2(Mg,Fe,Fe)5Si6Be2O22(OH)2 P 2/a 2/m

09.DE.10 Kaersutite NaCa2(Mg4Ti)Si6Al2O23(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Magnesiohastingsite NaCa2(Mg4Fe)Si6Al2O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Magnesiohornblende Ca2[Mg4(Al,Fe)]Si7AlO22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Pargasite NaCa2(Mg,Fe)4Al(Si6Al2)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Potassicsadanagaite! (K,Na)Ca2[Fe3(Al,Fe)2][Si5Al3O22](OH)2 C 2,Cm,C 2/m Mono

09.DE.10 Potassicpargasite! (K,Na)Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH,F)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Sadanagaite (K,Na)Ca2(Fe,Mg,Al,Ti)5[(Si,Al)8O22](OH)2 C 2,Cm,C 2/m Mono

09.DE.10 Tschermakite []Ca2(Mg3AlFe)Si6Al2O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Tremolite []Ca2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Fluoro-magnesiohastingsite! (Na,K)Ca2(Mg,Fe,Ti)5(Si,Al)8O22F2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Parvo-manganotremolite! [](CaMn)2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Fluoropargasite! NaCa2(Mg3FeAl)5(Si6Al2O22)F2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Parvo-mangano-edenite! Na(CaMn)2Mg5(Si7Al)O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Magnesiosadanagaite! NaCa2[Mg3(Al,Fe)2]Si5AlO22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Fluoro-potassichastingsite! KCa2(Fe2,Mg2,Fe)S5(Si6Al2)8O22F2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Chloro-potassichastingsite! KCa2(Fe3MgFe)(Si6Al2)S8O22Cl2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Potassic-magnesiohastingsite! (K,Na)Ca2(Mg,Fe,Fe,Al)5(Si,Al)8O22(OH,Cl)2 C 2/m 2/m

09.DE.10 Potassic-ferropargasite KCa2(Fe4Al)Si6Al2O22(OH)2 C 2/m 2/m

Other Actinolite Information

References:

NAME( Sinkankas66) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Heinrich65)

Search for Actinolite using:

[ALTAVISTA] [AOL] [All-The-Web] [HotBot] [Ixquick] [MAMMA] [MSN.COM] [Netscape] [Scirus] [Teoma] [Wikipedia] [YAHOO]

Visit our Advertisers for Actinolite :

AA Mineral Specimens

B & L Fine Minerals

Crystalarium.com

Dan Weinrich Fine Minerals

Dan Weinrich Auctions

Dakota Matrix

Desert Winds Gems and Minerals

John Betts Fine Minerals

Mason's Minerals

Mineral News

Mineral of the Month Club

Wrights Rock Shop

Translate Actinolite Mineral Data :

Ask about Actinolite here :
Ask-A-Mineralogist from the Mineralogical Society of America
Mindat.org's Discussion Groups
Original Rockhounds Discussion Group
Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups
Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in Español

Print or Cut-and-Paste your Actinolite Specimen Label here :

Actinolite

Ca2(Mg,Fe++)5Si8O22(OH)2
Dana No: 66.01.03a.02 Strunz No: 09.DE.10
Locality:

Notes: