Chrysotile (Serpentine)Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
Class: Silicate Subclass: Phyllosilicate Hardness: 2.5 Density: 2.5 Streak: White Lustre: Silky Habit: Fibrous Colours: Shades of green | | Crystal System: Monoclinic Cleavage: None Fracture: Uneven Magnetism: None Reaction with HCl: Unknown | Identification in hand sample: Habit and colour and most indicative properties. Associations: Found by hydrothermal alteration of mafics and ultramafics. Associated with talc, calcite, brucite, chlorite, magnetite and chromite. Industrial / ecomonic uses: Used in 98% of world's production of asbestos. Comments: Yields water when heated. |