riebeckite, a sodium-iron silicate mineral [Na2Fe2+3Fe3+2Si8O22(OH)2] in the amphibole family. It forms part of a solid-solution series that includes both magnesioriebeckite (formed when iron is replaced by magnesium) and glaucophane (formed when iron is replaced by magnesium and aluminum).
Riebeckite is a moderately hard mineral with a glassy lustre. It forms prismatic crystals that are dark blue or black in colour. A fibrous variety, crocidolite, is of metamorphic origin and is commonly called blue asbestos.
The mineral is associated with acidic igneous rocks such as granites and syenites. Common deposits are found in Arizona, Colorado, and Massachusetts, U.S.; Greenland; Portugal; Nigeria; South Africa; and portions of western Australia. For detailed physical properties, see amphibole (table).
| name | colour | lustre | Mohs hardness | specific gravity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| actinolite | colourless to gray; darkens with increased Fe through green to black | silky; oily | 2.9–3.2 | 2.9–3.2 |
| anthophyllite | white, gray, green, or various shades of brown | vitreous | 5½–6 | 2.9–3.2 |
| arfvedsonite | dark bluish green to greenish black or black | vitreous | 34460 | 3–3.5 |
| basaltic hornblende | brown to black | glassy | 34460 | 3.2–3.3 |
| common hornblende | pale to dark green | glassy | 34460 | 3–3.4 |
| cummingtonite | dark green; brown | silky | 34460 | 3.1–3.6 |
| glaucophane | gray or lavender-blue | vitreous | 6 | 3.1–3.3 |
| richterite | brown, yellow, brownish red, pale to dark green | vitreous | 34460 | 3–3.4 |
| riebeckite | dark blue or black | vitreous | 5 | 3–3.4 |
| name | habit or form | fracture or cleavage | refractive indices | crystal system |
| actinolite | fibrous massive | one perfect cleavage of 56 degrees |
alpha = 1.600–1.672 beta = 1.614–1.686 gamma = 1.627–1.693 |
monoclinic |
| anthophyllite | fibrous or lamellar masses; bladed and prismatic crystal aggregates | one perfect cleavage of 54 degrees |
alpha = 1.587–1.642 beta = 1.602–1.655 gamma = 1.613–1.661 |
orthorhombic |
| arfvedsonite | long prisms; prismatic aggregates | one perfect cleavage of 56 degrees |
alpha = 1.612–1.700 beta = 1.625–1.709 gamma = 1.630–1.710 |
monoclinic |
| basaltic hornblende | massive | one perfect cleavage of 56 degrees |
alpha = 1.622–1.690 beta = 1.672–1.730 gamma = 1.680–1.760 |
monoclinic |
| common hornblende | massive | one good cleavage of 56 degrees |
alpha = 1.615–1.705 beta = 1.618–1.714 gamma = 1.632–1.730 |
monoclinic |
| cummingtonite | fibrous or lamellar massive | one good cleavage of 55 degrees |
alpha = 1.643–1.688 beta = 1.658–1.711 gamma = 1.663–1.731 |
monoclinic |
| glaucophane | fibrous or columnar massive | one good cleavage of 58 degrees |
alpha = 1.606–1.661 beta = 1.622–1.667 gamma = 1.627–1.670 |
monoclinic |
| richterite | elongated crystals | one perfect cleavage of 56 degrees |
alpha = 1.605–1.685 beta = 1.618–1.700 gamma = 1.627–1.712 |
monoclinic |
| riebeckite | longitudinally striated prismatic crystals; fibrous massive | one good cleavage of 56 degrees |
alpha = 1.645–1.701 beta = 1.662–1.711 gamma = 1.668–1.717 |
monoclinic |