Crocidolite (blue asbestos)

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Crocidolite is a fibrous variety of the rather rarely occurring chain silicate riebeckite from the alkali amphibole group. It is named blue asbestos because of its bluish to violet color. As with the other asbestos minerals, blue asbestos was popular in the construction sector because of its heat- and acid-resistant properties, especially as sprayed asbestos for fire protection in buildings with steel skeletons.
The greater tendency of blue asbestos fibers to split longitudinally makes the mineral more hazardous than Chrysotile (White Asbestos).