Where is amphibole found

Back to Rocks and Minerals Articles. The amphibole group is extensive and complex. It is presently divided into several sub-groups and remains under study. The basic structure of an amphibole is a double-chain of tetrahedral. Amphiboles have a wide range of chemical substitutions. Their chemical composition and general characteristics are very similar to the pyroxene group.

They are an important constituent in a variety of plutonic and volcanic igneous rocks. Igneous amphiboles intermediate in composition are referred to as hornblende. Amphiboles can also crystallize in metamorphic rocks, especially those derived from mafic igneous rocks and siliceous dolomites. Amphiboles pieces image source. Typically, amphiboles form as long prismatic crystals, radiating sprays and fibrous aggregates. They use rounded and polished pieces of amphibolite for various pieces of jewelry.

Substitutes and Alternative Sources There are nearly limitless alternatives for the various crushed stone applications for which amphibolite is occasionally used.

Any type of rock, local or imported, that can be readily quarried, crushed and transported can replace amphibolite. As noted above, amphibolite is used locally where it is easily quarried, reducing the costs of transporting rock in from other regions. There are many options to amphibolite as dimension stone.

Marble, granite, and quartzite, for instance, can all be polished and used as facing on the interior and exterior of buildings. In some environments even sandstone can be used for building construction. In the end, amphibolite is chosen for the particular color, texture and overall look it gives to a building.

Substitutes that provide a similar look include plastics and some varieties of other dark rock like dark granite.

Hornblende is also found in garnet-free assemblages associated with actinolite or cummingtonite Kimball and Spear, Lake Superior Geol. Good outcrops occur in NE Sec. Lake Superior Geology, Lahr, , Read and Wein, Question about Wisconsin geology?

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