actinolite

3 definitions found

actinolite - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Actinolite \Ac*tin"o*lite\, n. [Gr. ?, ?, ray + -lite.] (Min.)
     A bright green variety of amphibole occurring usually in
     fibrous or columnar masses.
     [1913 Webster]

  Amphibole \Am"phi*bole\ ([a^]m"f[i^]*b[=o]l), n. [Gr.
     'amfi`bolos doubtful, equivocal, fr. 'amfiba`llein to throw
     round, to doubt: cf. F. amphibole. Ha["u]y so named the genus
     from the great variety of color and composition assumed by
     the mineral.] (Min.)
     A common mineral embracing many varieties varying in color
     and in composition. It occurs in monoclinic crystals; also
     massive, generally with fibrous or columnar structure. The
     color varies from white to gray, green, brown, and black. It
     is a silicate of magnesium and calcium, with usually
     aluminium and iron. Some common varieties are tremolite,
     actinolite, asbestus, edenite, hornblende (the last
     name being also used as a general term for the whole
     species). Amphibole is a constituent of many crystalline
     rocks, as syenite, diorite, most varieties of trachyte, etc.
     See Hornblende.
     [1913 Webster]

actinolite - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  actinolite
      n 1: a green mineral of the amphibole group; calcium magnesium
           iron silicate