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Some forms of asbestos are formed from fibrous actinolite, the fibres being so small that they can enter the lungs and damage the alveoli. Another form of actinolite, known as nephrite, is one of the two common constituents of jade (the other being jadeite[?]).
Crystallographic system | Monoclinic |
Colours | Pale to dark green. White or grey when in asbestos form |
Lustre | Vitreous to dull glassy |
Hardness | 5.5-6 |
Refractive index | 1.61 |
Cleavage | 2 |
Pleochroism | Yellow to dark green to transparent to opaque |
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