Tremolite
Monoclinic
Ca2(Mg5-4.5Fe0-0.5)Si8O22(OH,F)2
Tremolite is a calcic amphibole and the magnesian end-member of the tremolite – ferro-actinolite series, a continuous solid solution dictated by the substitution of Mg by Fe2+. Tremolite was named in 1789 in reference to Tremola Valley (Switzerland) by Johann Georg Albrecht Höpfner, a Swiss journalist and pharmacist who investigated some samples that supposedly came from this valley. However, modern investigations concluded that the type material of tremolite actually derived from Campolungo, 13 km to the south.
Structure and chemistry
Calcic amphiboles are characterized by an empty A-site (the large cation site) that is smaller than in other amphiboles. Mg and Fe2+ occupy the M1, M2, and M3 octahedral sites, whereas Ca occupies the larger M4 sites. The solid solution between tremolite and ferro-actinolite is driven by the substitution of Mg by Fe2+. Tremolite is the magnesium-rich end member, containing no more than 0.5 Fe per formula unit, whereas ferro-actinolite is the ferrous end-member, characterized by more than 4.5 Fe per formula unit. Intermediate compositions, containing between 0.5 and 4.5 Mg (or 4.5 – 0.5 Fe) per formula unit, are known as actinolite. Several other substitutions exist in calcic amphiboles and cause their composition to deviate significantly from the ideal tremolite – ferro-actinolite solid solution. In first order, Al can be incorporated in the structure of calcic amphiboles, via the substitution of Si by Ca which is compensated either by the substitution of (Mg, Fe) by Al or the incorporation of Na in the A site. This chemical variability can be considered as a solid solution with hornblendes , whose extent is greater at higher temperatures. Other substitutions that occur in calcic amphiboles are Ca by Na, compensated by the coeval substitution of Mg, Fe by Al, and a very limited substitution of Fe, Mg, by Ca. In addition, Mn and Zn may substitute Fe and Mg in the octahedral sites.
Properties
Habit: prismatic, acicular, fibrous
Hardness: 5 – 6
Cleavage: {110} perfect (intersecting at 56° / 124°); {100} parting
Twinning: {100} simple, lamellar: common; {001} lamellar: rare
Color: colorless or grey
Luster: vitreous
Streak: white
Alteration: clay minerals, chlorite, talc, serpentine
In thin section…
α(α^a): ~1.599
β(//b): ~1.610
γ(γ^c = ~28°): ~1.620
2Vα: ~82°
Color: colorless
Pleochroism: non-pleochroic
Birefringence (δ): ~0.027 (second-order colors)
Relief: high
Optic sign: –
[Mindat]
[HoM]
Field features
Tremolite is an amphibole mineral found in metamorphosed impure marbles and calcsilicate rocks, skarns, and meta-mafic/-ultramafic rocks. In the field, it occurs as acicular, fibrous (more rarely prismatic) whitish/greyish crystals that easily split as tiny needles, thanks to the well-developed sets of prismatic cleavage planes. On basal sections, cleavage planes intersect at about 60°/120°, although this can seldom be observed in the field. Tremolite exhibits vitreous luster and white streak.
Tremolite in thin section
Tremolite is a non-pleochroic, transparent amphibole mineral, which commonly shows fibrous/acicular habit and prismatic cleavage planes intersecting at 60°/120° on basal sections. Among the amphibole group minerals, tremolite can be confused with cummingtonite, which is also transparent and non pleochroic. Indeed, the two minerals have very similar birefringence and angle of extinction, and both show positive sign of elongation. However, they differ in optic sign (tremolite is negative, cummingtonite is positive) and refraction indices (cummingtonite shows higher relief). Moreover, they occur in different geological settings: tremolite is found in Ca-rich metamorphic rocks, like marbles, calcsilicate rocks, metabasic and meta-ultramafic rocks, whereas cummingtonite is restricted to Ca-poor mafic and ultramafic rocks. Another difference is that tremolite is less commonly affected by multiple twinning than cummingtonite.
CPL
PPL
⇔ slider. Basal section of tremolite, showing well-developed cleavage planes intersecting at 60°/120°, surrounded by very fine-grained talc in a hornfels. Note the complete lack of color and pleochroism at PPL and the second order interference colors at CPL. Width: 1.2 mm. Norsi, Island of Elba, Italy.
CPL
PPL
⇔ slider. Prismatic section of tremolite, showing high (second-order) interference colors. Tremolite is here surrounded by talc and brownish mixtures of oxides and clay minerals. Width: 1.2 mm. Norsi, Island of Elba, Italy.
CPL
PPL
⇔ slider. Prismatic (right) and basal (upper-left) sections of tremolite. Width: 1.2 mm. Norsi, Island of Elba, Italy.
Video. Oblique extinction and positive sign of elongation (length slow) of tremolite. Width: 1.2 mm. Norsi, Island of Elba, Italy.
Examples of tremolite-bearing rocks
Tremolite-talc skarn
Radiating aggregates of tremolite surrounded by fine-grained talc and minor carbonate minerals in an ophicarbonate rock (altered serpentinite), transformed by hydrothermal pluton-derived fluids.
Sample: tremolite-talc skarn, metamorphosed ophicarbonate rock
Assemblage: tremolite, talc, chlorite, dolomite, calcite, magnetite
Locality: Capo Pini, Norsi, Isola d’Elba, Italy
Occurrence
Tremolite is a common product of contact and regional metamorphism of marbles, where it forms due to decarbonation of dolomite in the presence of quartz or SiO2 supplied by metasomatic fluids. In these rocks, tremolite is stable at amphibolite- and amphibole-hornfels-facies conditions and at higher grade it is replaced by diopside and forsteritic olivine. Tremolite may also form during greenschist-facies metamorphism of mafic and ultramafic rocks. However, in mafic rocks, the higher content of iron generally produces actinolite. In ultramafic rocks, low-grade regional and contact metamorphism produces distinctive parageneses, such as tremolite-talc and tremolite-carbonate-antigorite.
Addison, J., & McConnell, E. E. (2008). A review of carcinogenicity studies of asbestos and non-asbestos tremolite and other amphiboles. Regulatory toxicology and Pharmacology, 52(1), S187-S199.
Sueno, S., Cameron, M., Papike, J. J., & Prewitt, C. T. (1973). The high temperature crystal chemistry of tremolite. American Mineralogist: Journal of Earth and Planetary Materials, 58(7-8), 649-664.
Warren, B. E. (1930). II. The structure of tremolite H2Ca2Mg5 (SiO3) 8. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie-Crystalline Materials, 72(1-6), 42-57.
Zussman, J. (1959). A re-examination of the structure of tremolite. Acta Crystallographica, 12(4), 309-312.
Resources
An introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals. Deer, Howie & Zussmann.
Optical Mineralogy: Principles & Practice. Gribble & Hall.
Transmitted Light Microscopy of Rock-Forming Minerals: An Introduction to Optical Mineralogy (Springer Textbooks in Earth Sciences, Geography and Environment). Schmidt.
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