Amphibole facts for kids

Amphibole (Tremolite)

Amphibole is a group of inosilicate minerals. They form prism or needlelike crystals.

They are double chain SiO₄ tetrahedra, linked at the vertices. Usually they contain ions of iron and/or magnesium in their structures. Amphiboles can be green, black, colorless, white, yellow, blue, or brown.

Images for kids

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  Photomicrographs of a thin section containing an amphibole crystal; under cross-polarized light on the left, and plane-polarized light on the right.

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  Hornblende diorite from the Henry Mountains, Utah, US

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  Amphibolite from Warrensburg, Adirondack Mountains, New York State, USA

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  Double-chain inosilicate structure looking up the [100] axis. Silicon ions are hidden by apical oxygen ions.

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  Side view (along [010]) of double chain inosilicate backbone. Apical oxygens are at the bottom.

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  Amphibole structure looking along the [001] axis. Silicon ions are emphasized. Two "I-beams" are outlined in green.

See also

In Spanish: Anfíbol para niños