Click here for info about other gemstones

Click on one of the underlined links below, to see items for sale

Loose Stones - Mineral Specimens - Spheres

Gold Rings - Gold Pendants - Gold Earrings - Gold Sets - Gold Bracelets
Silver Rings - Silver Pendants - Silver Earrings - Silver Sets - Silver Bracelets
Beads - Fashion Pins - Tie Tacks - Bola Ties

As mentioned in our article about included quartz. Grass Quartz exhibits bright green
actinolite crystals, that really look like grass. This pretty much sums up Grass Quartz.
So below is some basic information about actinolite.

Chemical Formula: Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2
Hardness: 6
Luster: Vitreous
Color: White (tremolite)
Color: Green (actinolite)
Streak: White
Refractive Index: 1.6
Specific Gravity: 2.98-3.46
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Cleavage: perfect in two Directions

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Actinolite and tremolite are members of the amphibole group. Tremolite is commonly found in aggregates of almost bladed crystals, and is easily identified by its prefect cleavage, and white color. Actinolite is less likely to form long crystals, but its perfect cleavage and deep green color help identification. Crystals are common, but they are more likely to develop as long prisms in aggregate form. Also in fibrous asbestos form.

Asbestos is a collective term given to 6 naturally occurring minerals that are incombustible and separable into filaments: chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite.

A variety of actinolite, nephrite, is one of the two minerals called jade. The other jade mineral is jadeite. Jade has been used for eons in China and Central America as an ornamental and religious stone of deep significance. The nephrite jade was used mostly in China, although both have been used in both regions. Nephrite is more abundant than jadeite and has few color varieties, ranging only from creamy white to green.

Actinolite also occurs in crystalline schists, often being the chief constituent of green-coloured schists and greenstones.

Top

Click Here for More Included Quartz Information & Products