|
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||
| JOURNAL HOME | HELP | CONTACT PUBLISHER | SUBSCRIBE | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
1 U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Microbeam Laboratory, Denver, Colorado 80225, U.S.A.
2 Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, 80401, U.S.A.
3 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 8, Denver, Colorado 80204, U.S.A.
Correspondence: * E-mail: gmeeker{at}usgs.gov
Thirty samples of amphibole-rich rock from the largest mined vermiculite deposit in the world in the Rainy Creek alkaline-ultramafic complex near Libby, Montana, were collected and analyzed. The amphibole-rich rock is the suspected cause of an abnormally high number of asbestos-related diseases reported in the residents of Libby, and in former mine and mill workers. The amphibole-rich samples were analyzed to determine composition and morphology of both fibrous and non-fibrous amphiboles. Sampling was carried out across the accessible portions of the deposit to obtain as complete a representation of the distribution of amphibole types as possible. The range of amphibole compositions, determined from electron probe microanalysis and X-ray diffraction analysis, indicates the presence of winchite, richterite, tremolite, and magnesioriebeckite. The amphiboles from Vermiculite Mountain show nearly complete solid solution between these end-member compositions. Magnesio-arfvedsonite and edenite may also be present in low abundance. An evaluation of the textural characteristics of the amphiboles shows the material to include a complete range of morphologies from prismatic crystals to asbestiform fibers. The morphology of the majority of the material is intermediate between these two varieties. All of the amphiboles, with the possible exception of magnesioriebeckite, can occur in fibrous or asbestiform habit. The Vermiculite Mountain amphiboles, even when originally present as massive material, can produce abundant, extremely fine fibers by gentle abrasion or crushing.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  P. Ballirano, G. B. Andreozzi, and G. Belardi Crystal chemical and structural characterization of fibrous tremolite from Susa Valley, Italy, with comments on potential harmful effects on human health American Mineralogist, August 1, 2008; 93(8-9): 1349 - 1355. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. M. Rohs, J. E. Lockey, K. K. Dunning, R. Shukla, H. Fan, T. Hilbert, E. Borton, J. Wiot, C. Meyer, R. T. Shipley, et al. Low-Level Fiber-induced Radiographic Changes Caused by Libby Vermiculite: A 25-Year Follow-up Study Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., March 15, 2008; 177(6): 630 - 637. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. F. Hart, T. J. Ward, T. M. Spear, K. Crispen, and T. R. Zolnikov Evaluation of Asbestos Exposures during Firewood-Harvesting Simulations in Libby, MT, USA Preliminary Data Ann. Hyg., November 7, 2007; (2007) mem052v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. C. Schumacher Metamorphic Amphiboles: Composition and Coexistence Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, October 1, 2007; 67(1): 359 - 416. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. E. Gunter, E. Belluso, and A. Mottana Amphiboles: Environmental and Health Concerns Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, October 1, 2007; 67(1): 453 - 516. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. J. Blake, C. M. Bolin, D. P. Cox, F. Cardozo-Pelaez, and J. C. Pfau Internalization of Libby Amphibole Asbestos and Induction of Oxidative Stress in Murine Macrophages Toxicol. Sci., September 1, 2007; 99(1): 277 - 288. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Gianfagna, G. B. Andreozzi, P. Ballirano, S. Mazziotti-Tagliani, and B. M. Bruni STRUCTURAL AND CHEMICAL CONTRASTS BETWEEN PRISMATIC AND FIBROUS FLUORO-EDENITE FROM BIANCAVILLA, SICILY, ITALY Can Mineral, April 1, 2007; 45(2): 249 - 262. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 G. Iezzi, G. D. Ventura, F. Bellatreccia, S. L. Mastro, B. R. Bandli, and M. E. Gunter Site occupancy in richterite-winchite from Libby, Montana, USA, by FTIR spectroscopy Mineralogical Magazine, February 1, 2007; 71(1): 93 - 104. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. S VAN GOSEN The Geology of Asbestos in the United States and Its Practical Applications Environmental and Engineering Geoscience, February 1, 2007; 13(1): 55 - 68. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. S. Plumlee, S. A. Morman, and T. L. Ziegler The Toxicological Geochemistry of Earth Materials: An Overview of Processes and the Interdisciplinary Methods Used to Understand Them Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, January 1, 2006; 64(1): 5 - 57. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. E. Gunter, E. Singleton, B. R. Bandli, H. A. Lowers, and G. P. Meeker Differentiation of commercial vermiculite based on statistical analysis of bulk chemical data: Fingerprinting vermiculite from Libby, Montana U.S.A. American Mineralogist, April 1, 2005; 90(4): 749 - 754. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
B. R. Bandli, M. E. Gunter, B. Twamley, F. F. Foit Jr., and S. B. Cornelius OPTICAL, COMPOSITIONAL, MORPHOLOGICAL, AND X-RAY DATA ON ELEVEN PARTICLES OF AMPHIBOLE FROM LIBBY, MONTANA, U.S.A. Can Mineral, October 1, 2003; 41(5): 1241 - 1253. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| JOURNAL HOME | HELP | CONTACT PUBLISHER | SUBSCRIBE | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
