If anisotropic fibers are found, rotate the stage to determine the angle of extinction. Except for tremolite-actinolite asbestos which has oblique extinction at 10-20E, the other forms of asbestos exhibit parallel extinction (Table 1)., monoclinic optical properties. “Byssolitic” samples of the actinolite series, a fibrous non-asbesti-form habit, contain fibers that do not go to extinction in sections on or near (010), probably., In longitudinal sections, the maximum extinction angle varies from about 12° to 30° depending on composition; in cross sections, extinction is symmetrical to the two cleavages., Refractive index is between 1.606 and 1.641. Birefringence ranges within 0.022 to 0.027 and maximum average birefringence is 0.023. This mineral has a low extinction angle., Common in thin section, actinolite is used to teach optical mineralogy, including pleochroism, cleavage patterns, and extinction angles. Its structural complexity makes it a frequent subject of crystallographic and spectroscopic analysis., Typical Color Habit(s) Occurrence Alteration / Decomposition Other useful features n Cleavage Birefringence/Max. Interference Colors Extinction / Ext. Angle Twinning Elongation Optic Sign 2V Dispersion Density. LIGHT NORMAL DENSE Igneous Metamorphic Low-T hydrothermal High-T hydrothermal Sedimentary..