Chrysolite and Cryolite: Not just Spelling Errors

I learn new things every day. As I was searching for some asbestos-related information, I accidentally spelled “chrysotile” as “chrysolite” and got some weird search hits completely unrelated as asbestos. I figured that if it happened to me, then others of you out there may make the same mistake. Please note the following:

Chrysolite, unlike chrysotile. is not asbestos. Rather, it is the birthstone for a Libra (September 23rd to October 22nd). It is also known as peridot. The gem is green olivine in coloring. The only hazard from chrysolite arises from your forgetting your loved one’s birthday. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysolite Adding to the confusion, per the Encyclopedia Britannica, “Chrysoberyl is often mistaken for chrysolite, because of their similar colour, and has been called oriental chrysolite. The name chrysolite, however, should properly be restricted to a pale-green olivine, a silicate mineral that is softer and less dense than chrysoberyl.” https://www.britannica.com/science/chrysolite

Chrysotile on the other hand, is asbestos, typically white or white-ish and, per most scientific studies and safety standards such as those adopted by the World Health Organization, very dangerous.

Cryolite is a mineral identified with the once-large deposit at Ivittuut on the west coast of Greenland. This was mined commercially until 1987. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryolite It is nasty and extremely dangerous. https://chemicalsafety.ilo.org/dyn/icsc/showcard.display?p_card_id=1565 I would like to point out two facts from Wikipedia: First, some cryolite is found at the foot of Pikes Peak, here in Colorado; Second, the United States became involved with protecting the world’s largest cryolite mine in Ivittuut, Greenland in 1940 from falling into Nazi Germany’s control. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/how-abandoned-mining-town-greenland-helped-win-world-war-ii-180973835/

I wonder if President Trump’s statement about the United States buying, taking over, or otherwise controlling Greenland once he is back in office takes into account the mining possibilities for United States based companies. This isn’t too far of a stretch as the United States Department of the Interior has a long history of doing that throughout the world with the United States based mining companies tending to make a lot of money (and taking the risks) with the local population getting some jobs, but very little other monetary benefits arising from the arrangements. Investigating whether these arrangements are a long term benefit, and to whom, I will leave to others.

Good to keep the minerals names separate. Let me know what you think either by leaving a comment or sending me an email to TheAsbestosBlog@gmail.com. Thanks. Marty