Grunerite

Grunerite is a mineral of the amphibole group of minerals with formula Fe₇Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂. It is the iron endmember of the grunerite-cummingtonite series. It forms as fibrous, columnar or massive aggregates of crystals. The crystals are monoclinic prismatic. The luster is glassy to pearly with colors ranging from green, brown to dark grey. The Mohs hardness is 5 to 6 and the specific gravity is 3.4 to 3.5.

It was discovered in 1853 and named for Louis Gruner, a Swiss-French chemist who first analysed it. Grunerite is also known commercially by the name amosite.

References

* [http://webmineral.com/data/Grunerite.shtml Webmineral data]
* [http://www.mindat.org/min-1758.html Mindat]