Chrysotile is a fibrous mineral belonging to the serpentine group, often recognized by its flexible, thread-like strands. It is typically found in serpentinized ultramafic rocks where it forms cross-fiber veins, though it is critically dangerous to handle due to respiratory health risks from loose fibers.
Is this chrysotile asbestos?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch chrysotile asbestos with a known reference. Chrysotile Asbestos sits at Mohs 2.5-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Chrysotile Asbestos leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Chrysotile Asbestos typically shows a silky luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, gray, green, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: fibrous.
Often confused with
Chrysotile Asbestos vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Tremolite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6 vs. 2.5-3); luster reads silky on Chrysotile Asbestos and vitreous on Tremolite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads silky on Chrysotile Asbestos and greasy on Antigorite.
Often found alongside chrysotile asbestos
Minerals reported to co-occur with chrysotile asbestos. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 2.53-2.55 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Silky
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Ultramafic Rocks and Serpentinites
- Typical price
- $10-50 per specimen
Where rockhounds find chrysotile asbestos
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Quebec, Canada
- Asbest, Russia
- Val Malenco, Italy
- Arizona, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in ultramafic rocks and serpentinites country, the host setting where chrysotile asbestos typically forms. If you start seeing magnetite, chromite, dolomite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in New York. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find chrysotile asbestos on the map
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