crocidolite

[ kroh-sid-l-ahyt ]

noun

, Mineralogy.

1. a bluish, asbestine variety of riebeckite.

crocidolite

/ krəʊˈsɪdəˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a blue fibrous amphibole mineral consisting of sodium iron silicate: a variety of asbestos used in cement products and pressure piping

Word History and Origins

Origin of crocidolite¹

1825–35; < Greek krokid- (stem of krokís ) nap, wool + -o- + -lite

Word History and Origins

Origin of crocidolite¹

C19: from Greek krokis nap on woollen cloth + -lite

Example Sentences

They are crocidolite - often referred to as blue asbestos; amosite - often called brown asbestos; and chrysotile - white asbestos.

From BBC

That’s one of six minerals – along with chrysotile, actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite and crocidolite – that occur in nature as crystalline fibers known as asbestos, a recognized carcinogen.

From Reuters

And the famous chatoyancy wasn't being caused by the quartz itself, but by tiny inclusions of crocidolite fibers within the quartz columns.

From Scientific American

The silica - quartz - came upon the scene after the crocidolite had formed and copied its fibrous nature as it replaced it.

From Scientific American

Basically, as tectonic stresses cracked quartz-rich veins, crocidolite fibers would grow from wee crocidolite grains in the surrounding rock.

From Scientific American