Definition

Noun: 1. A dark brown mineral of the amphibole group; magnesium iron silicate: A specific, relatively rare mineral characterized by its composition and its membership in the amphibole family of silicate minerals.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The geologist identified the fibrous crystals in the rock sample as anthophyllite.
  • Anthophyllite is one of several amphibole asbestos minerals, though it is less common than others like tremolite.
  • Under the microscope, the anthophyllite exhibited its characteristic prismatic crystal habit.

Advanced Usage

• "Anthophyllite asbestos": Refers to the fibrous, asbestiform variety of the mineral, which has industrial and health significance.
  • Regulations specifically address the handling of anthophyllite asbestos due to its potential hazards.

Variants and Related Words

• Anthophyllitic (adj): Relating to or characteristic of anthophyllite.
  • The rock had an anthophyllitic texture.

Synonyms

• Mineral: (general category)
• Amphibole: (group name)
• Magnesium iron silicate: (chemical description)

Related Terms

• Asbestos: A commercial name for a group of naturally occurring fibrous silicate minerals, which can include the asbestiform variety of anthophyllite.
• Tremolite, Actinolite: Other minerals within the same amphibole group.

Noun

1. a dark brown mineral of the amphibole group; magnesium iron silicate