Amphibole

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This article is about the mineral. For the logical fallacy, see equivocation. For the ambiguous grammatical construction, see amphibology. For the study of amphibians (amphibiology), see amphibian.
Amphibole (tremolite)

Amphibole (/ˈæmfɪˌboʊl/) is a group of inosilicate minerals, forming prism or needlelike crystals,[1] composed of double chain SiO
4 tetrahedra, linked at the vertices and generally containing ions of iron and/or magnesium in their structures. Amphiboles can be green, black, colorless, white, yellow, blue, or brown. The International Mineralogical Association currently classifies amphiboles as a mineral supergroup, within which are two groups and several subgroups.[2]

Mineralogy[]

Photomicrographs of a thin section containing an amphibole crystal; under cross-polarized light on the left, and plane-polarized light on the right.

Amphiboles crystallize into two crystal systems, monoclinic and orthorhombic.[3] In chemical composition and general characteristics they are similar to the pyroxenes. The chief differences from pyroxenes are that (i) amphiboles contain essential hydroxyl (OH) or halogen (F, Cl) and (ii) the basic structure is a double chain of tetrahedra (as opposed to the single chain structure of pyroxene). Most apparent, in hand specimens, is that amphiboles form oblique cleavage planes (at around 120 degrees), whereas pyroxenes have cleavage angles of approximately 90 degrees. Amphiboles are also specifically less dense than the corresponding pyroxenes.[4] In optical characteristics, many amphiboles are distinguished by their stronger pleochroism and by the smaller angle of extinction (Z angle c) on the plane of symmetry.[citation needed] Amphiboles are the primary constituent of amphibolites.[5]

In rocks[]

Amphiboles are minerals of either igneous or metamorphic origin. Amphiboles are more common in intermediate to felsic igneous rocks than in mafic igneous rocks,[6] because the higher silica and dissolved water content of the more evolved magmas favors formation of amphiboles rather than pyroxenes.[7] The highest amphibole content, around 20%, is found in andesites.[8] Hornblende is widespread in igneous and metamorphic rocks and is particularly common in syenites and diorites. Calcium is sometimes a constituent of naturally occurring amphiboles. Amphilotes of metamorphic origin include those developed in limestones by contact metamorphism (tremolite) and those formed by the alteration of other ferromagnesian minerals (such as hornblende as an alteration product of pyroxene).[9] Pseudomorphs of amphibole after pyroxene are known as uralite.[10]

History and etymology[]

The name amphibole derives from Greek amphíbolos (ἀμφίβολος, lit. 'double entendre'), implying ambiguity. The name was used by René Just Haüy to include tremolite, actinolite and hornblende. The group was so named by Haüy in allusion to the protean variety, in composition and appearance, assumed by its minerals. This term has since been applied to the whole group. Numerous sub-species and varieties are distinguished, the more important of which are tabulated below in two series. The formulae of each will be seen to be built on the general double-chain silicate formula RSi4O11.[11]

Four of the amphibole minerals are among the minerals commonly called asbestos. These are: anthophyllite, riebeckite, the cummingtonite/grunerite series, and the actinolite/tremolite series. The cummingtonite/grunerite series is often termed amosite or "brown asbestos", and riebeckite is known as crocidolite or "blue asbestos". These are generally called amphibole asbestos.[12] Mining, manufacture and prolonged use of these minerals can cause serious illnesses.[13][14]

Mineral species[]

Chemical formula[]

Orthorhombic series

Monoclinic series

Descriptions[]

On account of the wide variations in chemical composition, the different members vary considerably in properties and general appearance.

Anthophyllite occurs as brownish, fibrous or lamellar masses with hornblende in mica-schist at Kongsberg in Norway and some other localities. An aluminous related species is known as gedrite and a deep green Russian variety containing little iron as .[11]

Hornblende is an important constituent of many igneous rocks. It is also an important constituent of amphibolites formed by metamorphism of basalt.[15]

Actinolite is an important and common member of the monoclinic series, forming radiating groups of acicular crystals of a bright green or greyish-green color. It occurs frequently as a constituent of greenschists. The name (from Greek ἀκτίς, ἀκτῖνος/aktís, aktînos, a 'ray' and λίθος/líthos, a 'stone') is a translation of the old German word Strahlstein (radiated stone).[11][16]

Glaucophane, crocidolite, riebeckite and arfvedsonite form a somewhat special group of alkali-amphiboles. The first two are blue fibrous minerals, with glaucophane occurring in blueschists and crocidolite (blue asbestos) in ironstone formations, both resulting from dynamo-metamorphic processes. The latter two are dark green minerals, which occur as original constituents of igneous rocks rich in sodium, such as nepheline-syenite and phonolite.[11][17]

Pargasite is a rare magnesium-rich variety of hornblende[10] with essential sodium, usually found in ultramafic rocks. For instance, it occurs in uncommon mantle xenoliths, carried up by kimberlite. It is hard, dense, black and usually automorphic, with a red-brown pleochroism in petrographic thin section.[18]

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ "Amphibole". Dictionary of Geology. Retrieved 2013-01-21.
  2. ^ Mindat, Amphibole Supergroup
  3. ^ Klein, Cornelis; Hurlbut, Cornelius S., Jr. (1993). Manual of mineralogy : (after James D. Dana) (21st ed.). New York: Wiley. p. 491. ISBN 047157452X.
  4. ^ Klein & Hurlbut 1993, pp. 474–475, 478, 491.
  5. ^ Klein & Hurlbut 1993, pp. 590.
  6. ^ Peters, Stefan T. M.; Troll, Valentin R.; Weis, Franz A.; Dallai, Luigi; Chadwick, Jane P.; Schulz, Bernhard (2017-03-16). "Amphibole megacrysts as a probe into the deep plumbing system of Merapi volcano, Central Java, Indonesia". Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology. 172 (4): 16. doi:10.1007/s00410-017-1338-0. ISSN 1432-0967.
  7. ^ Nesse, William D. (2000). Introduction to mineralogy. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 279–280. ISBN 9780195106916.
  8. ^ Levin, Harold L. (2010). The earth through time (9th ed.). Hoboken, N.J.: J. Wiley. p. 62. ISBN 978-0470387740.
  9. ^ Klein & Hurlbut 1993, p. 496-497.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b Nesse 2000, p. 285.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b c d  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Spencer, Leonard James (1911). "Amphibole". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 883–884.
  12. ^ US Geological Survey, Asbestos, accessed 20 July 2015.
  13. ^ Nesse 2000, p. 242.
  14. ^ "Health Effects of Asbestos". Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Centers for Disease Control. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  15. ^ Nesse 2000, p. 286.
  16. ^ Klein & Hurlbut 1993, pp. 495–496.
  17. ^ Nesse 2000, pp. 287–289.
  18. ^ "Pargasite" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy (pdf). Mineralogical Society of America. Retrieved 2012-12-17.

References[]

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