Amphibole asbestos · Green
Actinolite - Green amphibole asbestos
Actinolite is a calcium- and iron-rich mineral of the amphibole group. Its structure is similar to that of tremolite – the two are often difficult to tell apart. Actinolite was not used commercially as asbestos, but it occurs as a contaminant and as a naturally occurring mineral.
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Mineral group
Amphibole
Colour
Green
Formula
Ca₂(Mg,Fe)₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂
Risk level
High
Characteristics
- ✓Straight fibres
- ✓Calcium- and iron-rich amphibole
- ✓Greenish colour
- ✓No commercial use in its own right
Historical uses
- •No commercial use as such
- •May occur as a contaminant in other asbestos products
- •As a naturally occurring mineral in the ground
Where can Actinolite be found?
- •In the ground in mining contexts
- •As a contaminant in other asbestos products
Actinolite in Finland
In Finland, actinolite occurs mainly as a naturally occurring mineral. It has never been a significant commercial type of asbestos.
Ban
Banned in Finland in 1994 as part of the complete asbestos ban.
Health risk
High. As an amphibole asbestos it causes the same diseases as the other amphibole asbestos types. The likelihood of exposure is nevertheless lower, because it was never in widespread commercial use.
Do you suspect Actinolite in your material?
Order an asbestos analysis – we identify all six types of asbestos with a JEOL SEM-EDS electron microscope.