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Byssolite (variety of Amphibole Supergroup)

Discovered in 1796; IMA status: Not Valid (a variety of Amphibole Supergroup)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

AX₂Z₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂

A = Na, K, Ca, Pb²⁺
X = Li, Na, Mg, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ca
Z = Li, Na, Mg, Fe²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn, Co, Ni, Al, Fe³⁺, Cr³⁺, Mn³⁺, V³⁺, Ti, Zr

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates (Germanates)

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/F.10-20

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.DE.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
E : Inosilicates with 2-periodic double chains, Si₄O₁₁; Clinoamphiboles

Related to:

A variety of Amphibole Supergroup. Actinolite-Ferroactinolite-Tremolite Series.

Synonyms:

Actinolite-asbestos, Amiantus, Bissolite

More Information

Mindat.org (Byssolite)
Webmineral.com (Actinolite)

View mineral photos:

Byssolite Mineral Photos and Locations

Byssolite is a variety of the Amphibole Group of minerals that also includes Actinolite, Arfvedsonite, Kaersutite, Katophorite, Pargasite, Tremolite and many others. Byssolite is typically found as colorless, yellow or green fibrous, hair-like to asbestiform crystals or masses of fibers. Byssolite is not an IMA approved mineral name but considered a variety of Amphibole Supergroup. The name Byssolite is often used as a synonym for fibrous Actinolite or Tremolite.

Byssolite was named in 1796 by Swiss geologist Horace-Bénédict de Saussure (1740-1799) from the Greek word meaning "flax" in allusion to fibrous Byssolite resembling the "fibers" of the flax plant, and the Greek word meaning "stone". Saussure also named several other minerals including Dolomite.

There are many worldwide locations for finding Byssolite but only one location that I can find for Byssolite inclusions in Clinozoisite: Alchuri, Shigar Valley, Skardu District, Baltistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. 

Byssolite gems for sale:

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