actinolite

[ak-tin-l-ahyt, ak-tuh-nl-]

noun

Mineralogy.

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

actinolite

/ 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

actinolite

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 .

Other Word Forms

• actinolitic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of actinolite¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of actinolite¹

C19: from _actino- (from the radiating crystals in some forms) + _-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…"

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J&J didn’t tell the FDA about a 1974 test by a professor at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire that turned up asbestos in talc from J&J – “fiberform” actinolite, as he put it.

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In its March 2013 final report, the EPA said it found actinolite asbestos along a road cut on the northeastern side of Burlington Hill.

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The actinolite slate is dark green, and formed by an almost insensible gradation from the mica slate.

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Some authors believe that the development of saussurite from felspar is also dependent on pressure rather than on weathering, and an analogous change may affect the olivine, replacing it by talc, chlorite, actinolite and garnet.

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