Mineral Identification : Amphiboles

Hornblende | Tremolite | Actinolite | Glaucophane
Luster - vitreous
Streak - white, if not harder than the streak plate
Hardness - 5-6
Density - moderately dense
Cleavage - two perfect planes at 56 and 124 degrees
Color - hornblende = black, tremolite- actinolite defined by green variability, glaucophane is noticeably grey blue
Crystal system - monoclinic
Crystal form/habit - bladed, fibrous, elongated
Extra notes - most samples are brittle

[@tedpreston4155]

"and really, color is what does it for the amphiboles." That could not be more true in my world! I've been collecting nephrite in Wyoming for decades, and color is what makes the difference between the best emerald and apple green jade and a lump of uninspiring olive or sage green.

[@KittieMaeS]

This was super informative and easy to follow. Thank you for sharing your knowledge 😊

[@johnnytarponds9292]

Hornblende reminds me of tourmaline. Thanks for a great video!

[@Abdelouahed391]

جميل جداً بالتوفيق يا صديقي 👍👍👍👌👌👌

[@rajinder2662]

Thanks showing Hornblende xl seen rarely

[@josesantana4883]

Very well explained.. thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@johnnynephrite6147]

Hornblende, Tremolite, and Actinolite can metamorphose into my last name.

[@tedpreston4155]

Indeed! I've collected a lot of nephrite, and found parts of the veins that were not completely formed, leaving something much more like actinolite of tremolite, and some of it even looks like asbestos.

[@johnnynephrite6147]

@@tedpreston4155 yeah sometimes not completely metamorphosed. If stable enough to cab can be worth $$$.

[@bdh2564]

Excellent 👍 thank you

[@GLGMineralogy]

Thank you too!

[@spiritualpathseeker]

Sources I have checked list tremolite as a kind of asbestos, and various sources state that the blades can be harmful to humans. ( The blades in the specimen in your video seem to be is the fairly stable. But in other specimens, there are countless tiny brittles blades.)

[@CurlyToedShoes]

Informative and interesting! I recently collected some talc and actinolite and wonder how safe those are to display and handle because of possible asbestos in them?

[@Northwoods90]

Just don’t crush them up and snort them and you’ll be fine.

[@rajinder2662]

Mostly used amphibolite is not classified into its varient.

[@anurangaherath1852]

Thank you for this. useful :)

[@mikeryan2388]

Holy cow that’s a cancer cocktail! How could you not mention asbestos?

[@tedpreston4155]

Yes, I had the same thought. We should also be discussing nephrite jade in this group!