Balangeroite's fibers in the mineralogical museum of Lanzo Torinese (TO) - Italy — Photo: Associazione fotoamatori f8, charged by Gigillo83 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Balangeroite
A fibrous silicate from Italy's great Balangero chrysotile mine, usually found intergrown with chrysotile, magnetite and iron-nickel alloys.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Balangeroite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula Mg₂₁Si₈O₂₇(OH)₂₀.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2/n).
Key properties: specific gravity 2.96–3.1; Vitreous, greasy luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Bal, IMA status: approved, named in 1982.
Found in schistose serpentinite in proximity to a large ultramafic massif.
It is found associated with Chrysotile, magnetite, Fe{Ni alloy, olivine, chlorite, titanian clinohumite, diopside, antigorite, calcite, aragonite, \opal", \chalcedony", clay minerals.
The name refers to the Balangero mine, Piedmont, Italy.