Definitions for: Amphibole

[n] a mineral or mineral variety belonging to the amphibole group

Webster (1913) Definition: Am"phi*bole ([a^]m"f[i^]*b[=o]l), n. [Gr.
'amfi`bolos doubtful, equivocal, fr. 'amfiba`llein to throw
round, to doubt: cf. F. amphibole. Ha["u]y so named the genus
from the great variety of color and composition assumed by
the mineral.] (Min.)
A common mineral embracing many varieties varying in color
and in composition. It occurs in monoclinic crystals; also
massive, generally with fibrous or columnar structure. The
color varies from white to gray, green, brown, and black. It
is a silicate of magnesium and calcium, with usually
aluminium and iron. Some common varieties are tremolite,
actinolite, asbestus, edenite, hornblende (the last
name being also used as a general term for the whole
species). Amphibole is a constituent of many crystalline
rocks, as syenite, diorite, most varieties of trachyte, etc.
See Hornblende.

See Also: actinolite, amphibole group, amphibolite, anthophyllite, asbestos, hornblende, mineral, nephrite

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