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Silicate

Chrysotile

Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄
Hardness2.5–3.5
Crystal systemMonoclinic
ClassSilicate
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Chrysotile specimen

Chrysotile is a serpentine-group mineral having the formula Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 - magnesium hydroxy-silicate. It has a greenish to yellowish-brown to whitish color, — Photo: James St. John · CC BY 2.0

Chrysotile

Also known as: White asbestos, Serpentine asbestos.

White asbestos — the serpentine-group fibrous silicate that made up about 95% of all asbestos used commercially.

Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).

Chrysotile is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄.

It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group B2/m). It is a member of the Serpentine, Clay structural group.

Key properties: Mohs hardness 2.5–3.5; typically green or white or yellow or gray or brown; white streak; silky luster; refractive index 1.57; optically biaxial.

IMA symbol Ctl, IMA status: approved, named in 1834.

Collections: Everyday Minerals, Collector Favorites.

Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data and a Wikipedia introduction — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet. Browse more C minerals or help write this entry.