1. Plural of crocidolite; a fibrous blue or blue-green mineral form of riebeckite asbestos, historically used in insulation and other industrial products.
Usage: technical; mineralogy; health hazard: known carcinogen

Examples

• Crocidolites were widely used in building materials before the health risks of asbestos became widely known.
• The microscopic fibers in crocidolites can cause serious lung disease if inhaled.
• Many older insulation products contained crocidolites as a fire-resistant component.
• Geologists identify crocidolites by their distinctive blue color and fibrous crystal structure.
• Exposure to crocidolites in the workplace led to numerous asbestos-related lawsuits in the late 20th century.