Anthophyllite

Anthophyllite
General
CategoryInosilicates
Amphibole
Formula
(repeating unit)
☐Mg2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2
IMA symbolAth[1]
Strunz classification9.DE.05
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classDipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space groupPnma
Unit cella = 18.5, b = 17.9
c = 5.28 [Å]; Z = 4
Identification
ColorGray to green, brown, and beige
Crystal habitRarely as distinct crystals. Commonly lamellar or fibrous.
CleavagePerfect on {210}, imperfect on {010}, {100}
TenacityBrittle; elastic when fibrous
Mohs scale hardness5.5 – 6
LusterVitreous, pearly on cleavage
StreakWhite to gray
DiaphaneityTransparent to translucent
Specific gravity2.85 – 3.2
Optical propertiesBiaxial (+)
Refractive indexnα=1.598 – 1.674, nβ=1.605 – 1.685, nγ=1.615 – 1.697; indices increase with Fe content
Birefringenceδ = 0.017 – 0.023
2V angle57° - 90°
Diagnostic featuresCharacterized by clove brown color, but unless in crystals, difficult to distinguish from other amphiboles without optical and/or X-ray tests
References[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Anthophyllite is an orthorhombic amphibole mineral: ☐Mg2Mg5Si8O22(OH)2 (☐ is for a vacancy, a point defect in the crystal structure), magnesium iron inosilicate hydroxide. Anthophyllite is polymorphic with cummingtonite. Some forms of anthophyllite are lamellar or fibrous and are classed as asbestos. The name is derived from the Latin word anthophyllum, meaning clove, an allusion to the most common color of the mineral. The Anthophyllite crystal is characterized by its perfect cleavage along directions 126 degrees and 54 degrees.

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ Handbook of Mineralogy
  3. ^ Mindat.org
  4. ^ Webmineral data
  5. ^ Klein, Cornelius., 2002, The Manual of Mineral Science, 22nd ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-25177-1
  6. ^ "IMA Master List". Archived from the original on 2015-01-05. Retrieved 2014-05-12.
  7. ^ Anthophyllite

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