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The phase relationship of talc and amphiboles in a fibrous talc sample.

Virta RL

Avondale, MD: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, RI 8923, 1985 Jan; :1-11

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10004328

The Bureau of Mines examined a fibrous talc sample from the Gouverneur talc district in New York by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and polarized light microscopy to determine the mineralogical relationship of the fibrous talc to the amphiboles present in the sample. Two amphiboles, anthophyllite and tremolite, were present in the sample. Tremolite occurred as a separate mineral phase, which was blocky in habit. Only a few composite tremolite-talc grains were observed. Anthophyllite, however, was present only in the fibrous talc grains. Microdiffraction study of the fibrous talc grains containing anthophyllite showed that the anthophyllite was intermixed with the talc on a fine scale and that there was a crystallographic relationship between the talc and anthophyllite lattices in the fibrous talc grains. A mechanism similar to the process that forms biopyriboles could explain the structural defects, the fibrous habit of the talc, and the structural relationship between the talc and anthophyllite in the fibrous talc grains. Because of these characteristics, phase contrast microscopy and a provisional TEM technique for monitoring asbestos exposure would not distinguish between fibrous talc and fibrous amphiboles. TEM techniques employing electron diffraction and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis are recommended to positively identify the fibrous phases for regulatory purposes.

Amphiboles; Talc; Fibers; Chemical analysis; Crystal structure; Asbestos; Sampling; X ray diffraction; New York; Exposure; Environmental health; Transmission electron microscopy; Anthophyllite; Tremolite; Health hazards; Talcville; Saint Lawrence County

19850101

IH; Report of Investigations

1985

PB85-185270

RI-8923

AVRC

Avondale, MD: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, RI 8923

MD; NY