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Tremolite

Amphibole, double-chain inosilicate mineral

Field	Value
name	Tremolite
image	Tremolite Campolungo.jpg
imagesize	300px
category	Inosilicates
formula	Ca2(Mg5.0-4.5Fe2+0.0-0.5)Si8O22(OH)2
IMAsymbol	Tr
strunz	9.DE.10
system	Monoclinic
class	Prismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
symmetry	C2/m (no. 12)
unit cell	a = 9.84 Å, b = 18.02 Å
c = 5.27 Å; β = 104.95°; Z = 2
color	White, gray, lavender to pink, light green, light yellow
habit	Elongated prismatic, or flattened crystals; also as fibrous, granular or columnar aggregates
twinning	Simple or multiple, common parallel to {100}; rarely parallel to {001}
cleavage	Perfect on {110} at 56° and 124°; partings on {010} and {100}
tenacity	Brittle
mohs	5–6
luster	Vitreous and silky
streak	White
diaphaneity	Transparent to translucent
gravity	2.99–3.03
opticalprop	Biaxial (−)
refractive	nα = 1.599 – 1.612 nβ = 1.613 – 1.626 nγ = 1.625 – 1.637
birefringence	δ = 0.026
2V	Measured: 86° to 88°
fluorescence	Short UV=yellow, Long UV=pink
references

(same H-M symbol) c = 5.27 Å; β = 104.95°; Z = 2 | length fast/slow =

Tremolite is a member of the amphibole group of silicate minerals with composition Ca2(Mg5.0-4.5Fe2+0.0-0.5)Si8O22(OH)2. Tremolite forms by metamorphism of sediments rich in dolomite and quartz, and occurs in two distinct forms, crystals and fibers. Tremolite forms a series with actinolite and ferro-actinolite. Pure magnesium tremolite is creamy-white, but the color grades to dark green with increasing iron content. It has a hardness on Mohs scale of 5 to 6. Nephrite, one of the two minerals known as the gemstone jade, is a green crystalline variety of tremolite.

The fibrous form of tremolite is one of the six recognised types of asbestos. Inhaling asbestiform tremolite can lead to asbestosis, lung cancer and both pleural and malignant mesothelioma. Fibrous tremolite is sometimes found as a contaminant in vermiculite, chrysotile (itself a type of asbestos), and talc.

Occurrence

Tremolite from the Aure Valley, French Pyrenees (size: 8.2 × 6.7 cm)

Tremolite is an indicator of metamorphic grade since at high temperatures it converts to diopside.

Tremolite occurs as a result of contact metamorphism of calcium- and magnesium-rich siliceous sedimentary rocks and in greenschist facies metamorphic rocks derived from ultramafic or magnesium carbonate bearing rocks. Associated minerals include calcite, dolomite, grossular, wollastonite, talc, diopside, forsterite, cummingtonite, riebeckite, and winchite.

Tremolite was first described in 1789 for an occurrence in Campolungo, Piumogna Valley, Leventina, Ticino (Tessin), Switzerland.

Fibrous tremolite

One of the six recognized types of asbestos, approximately 40,200 tons of tremolite asbestos is mined annually in India. It is otherwise found as a contaminant.

References

Mineral may unlock secrets of Venus's ancient oceans, New Scientist, 10 October 2007

References

Warr, L.N.. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine.
[http://www.mindat.org/min-4011.html Mindat.org]
[http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/tremolite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy]
[http://webmineral.com/data/Tremolite.shtml Webmineral data]
[http://pubsites.uws.edu.au/ima-cnmnc/ IMA Master List]
(1 October 2006). "Short-Range Order in Amphiboles from the Bear Lake Diggings, Ontario". The Canadian Mineralogist.
Furquan, Ahmad Ansari. (November 2025). "Asbestos: Foe or Friend?". Indmedica.

Info: Wikipedia Source

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calcium-minerals magnesium-minerals asbestos amphibole-group monoclinic-minerals minerals-in-space-group-12 luminescent-minerals

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