Name/Title
ChrysotileEntry/Object ID
2014.1.20Description
Chemical Composition: Al(OH)3
Crystal System: Hexagonal System
Description: Common Name: Chrysotile
Chemistry: Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Group: Silicates
Location: Josephine County, Oregon
Description: Small beige specimen with verticle layers of mica-like structure surrounding entire specimen.
Physical Charateristics:
•Color is olive green, yellow or golden, brown, or black.
•Luster is greasy, waxy or silky.
•Transparency crystals are translucent and masses are opaque.
•Crystal System is variable, see above.
•Crystal Habits: never in large individual crystals, usually compact masses or fibrous. Veins of viberous serpentine can be found inside of massive serpentine or other rocks.
•Cleavage the varieties of crysotile have none, in lizardite and antigorite it is good in one direction.
•Fracture is conchoidal in antigorite and lizardite and splintery in the crysotiles.
•Hardness is 3 - 4.5
•Specific Gravity is 2.2 - 2.6
•Streak white
•Associated Minerals include chromite, olivine, garnets, calcite, biotite and talc.
•Other Characteristics: serpentine in the rough has a silky feel to the touch and fibers are very flexible.
•Notable Occurances Val Antigorio, Italy; Russia; Rhodesia Switzerland; North Carolina, California, Rhode Island and Arizona, USA and Quebec, Canada.
•Best Field Indicators softness, color, silky feel and luster, asbestos if present and its flexibility.
Hardness: 7 Quartz
Rock Type: SedimentaryCollection
RAGM Mineral CollectionAcquisition
Accession
2014.1Source or Donor
Crater Rock Museum (unknown donors)Acquisition Method
GiftDimensions
Height
2-1/4 inWidth
1-1/4 inLength
1-11/16 inLocation
Location
Display Case
FS-11Room
Frieda Smith HallBuilding
Crater Rock MuseumCategory
PermanentMoved By
Curtis GardnerDate
December 27, 2023Location
Shelf
4th shelfCabinet
Case# 20Wall
WestBuilding
Freida Smith HallCategory
Permanent