Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor     

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2006-R.Weller    
 

Mineral Information on:
 actinolite

Chemical Group:  silicate  (pyroxene)

Chemical Formula:  Ca(Mg,Fe)3(SiO4)4  (with emphasis on Fe content)

Color:   light to dark green

 

Hardness:  5 to 6         Specific Gravity:    3.0 to 3.2                   Fracture:

Cleavage:  two directions, perfect

 

Crystal Forms:  Monoclinic system
    Often as aggregates of long prismatic crystals; sometimes fibrous or fine-grained

Mineral Associations:  low and medium grade metamorphic rocks

Identifying Characteristics:

Uses:

Occurrences: 

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- moderate              when inhaled- high

Additional Information:  in dense, compact form it is nephrite jade