actinolite

American  

[ak-tin-l-ahyt, ak-tuh-nl-] / ækˈtɪn lˌaɪt, ˈæk tə nl- /

noun

Mineralogy.

1. a variety of amphibole, occurring in greenish bladed crystals or in masses.

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actinolite British  

/ ækˈtɪnəˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a green mineral of the amphibole group consisting of calcium magnesium iron silicate. Formula: Ca 2 (Mg,Fe) 5 Si 8 O 22 (OH) 2

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actinolite Scientific  

/ ăk-tĭn′ə-līt′ /

1. A greenish variety of amphibole. Actinolite is a monoclinic mineral, and occurs in long, slender, green needlelike crystals, or in fibrous, radiated forms in metamorphic rocks. Chemical formula: Ca ₂ (Mg,Fe) ₅ Si ₈ O ₂₂ OH ₂ .

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• actinolitic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of actinolite

First recorded in 1825–35; actino- + -lite

Example Sentences

One internal document from 1973 allegedly says: "Our baby powder contains talc fragments classifiable as fiber. Occasionally sub-trace quantities of tremolite or actinolite are identifiable…"

From BBC • Oct. 15, 2025

Bicks told Reuters that J&J believes that the tremolite and actinolite Petterson cited were not asbestos.

From Reuters • Dec. 14, 2018

“Occasionally, sub-trace quantities of tremolite or actinolite are identifiable,” he wrote in an April 1973 report on the visit.

From Reuters • Dec. 14, 2018

That’s one of six minerals – along with chrysotile, actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite and crocidolite – that occur in nature as crystalline fibers known as asbestos, a recognized carcinogen.

From Reuters • Dec. 14, 2018

Among these black schorl or tourmaline, actinolite, zircon, garnet, and fluor spar are not uncommon; but they are too sparingly dispersed to modify the general aspect of the rock.

From The Student's Elements of Geology by Lyell, Charles, Sir