Asbestiform

By BSA 15 March 2005

 Some Facts About asbestos
What is asbestos ?
Asbestos is generic name given to the fibrous variety of minerals that have been
used in commercial products. It differs from other minerals in its crystal
development. Asbestos is made up of fiber bundles. These bundles, in turn, are
composed of extremely long and thin fibers that can easily separated from one
another. The bundles are extremely flexible.

The term of “asbestos” is not a mineralogical definition. It is commercial

designation for mineral products that possess high tensile strength, flexibility,
resistance to chemical and thermal degradation, and high electrical resistance and
that can be woven.

Asbestos divided into two mineral groups : Serpentine and Amphibole. The division
between the two types of asbestos is based upon the crystalline structure where
amphiboles have a chain-like structure.
 Asbestos and health risk
Breathing high levels of asbestos fibers for a long time (the tiny asbestos particles float
in the air, they may be inhaled or swallowed) can lead to an increased risk of asbestosis,
lung cancer, and mesothelioma. The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear
until 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos.

Particle shape, particle solubility, and duration of exposure are reported to be the three
most important factors determine lung damage.

Many researchers believe that amphibole asbestos particles pose a greater risk than
chrysotile particles because they are less soluble and more rigid than chrysotile,
allowing the amphibole asbestos particles to penetrate lung tissue and remain longer.
Asbestiform Minerals

The term “asbestiform” is used generally for minerals

that appear fibrous in nature and resemble asbestos in
appreance.
More commonly, the following minerals of the
serpentine and amphibole groups are included in
category of asbestiform minerals ( Waheed, 2005) :

-Serpentine minerals : Lizardite, Antigorite, Chrysotile

-Amphibole minerals : Tremolite, Actinolite, Crocidolite
(Riebeckite)
Asbestos is found in many common rocks.
Serpentine, the most widely occurring host rock for
chrysotile.

In General, chrysotile and amphibole asbestos

varieties occur in areas where the original rock
under elevated temperatures and pressures, has
been changed by heated fluids.

Serpentine and Amphibole minerals can have fibrous

or non fibrous structures, the fibrous type is called
Asbestos.

Asbestiform verieties of several other amphiboles

have been identified. Other minerals are similar to
asbestos in their particle shape, but they do not
possess the characteristics required to classify them
as asbestos.
General formula of serpentine is as follows: Serpentine Minerals
H4Mg3Si2O9 or 3MgO.2SiO2.2H2O (Waheed, 2005)
SiO2 = 44.1%
MgO = 43.0%
H2O = 12.9% (as water of crystallisation)

Some substitution may take place in the above formula by Al3+ replacing Si4+, or Fe2+ replacing Mg2+.

Occurrence of serpentine varies from massive to foliated to fibrous.

 Lizardite: This is the most common form of serpentine and is massive. However, microscopically, it
may be finely fibrous and felted. Colour is usually light to medium green but quite variable due to the
presence of other minerals. [Lizardite should not be confused with serpentine rock, which is also massive but
forms large rock masses].

 Antigorite: This is the micaceous, scaly, lamellar or foliated form of serpentine. The laminae are
generally inseparable but may be separable in some thinly foliated varieties. Colour is light to medium green
but quite variable (presence of magnetite may impart a gray, brown or black colour while the presence of
hematite may give it shades of brown and red).

 Chrysotile: Delicately fibrous with the fibres usually flexible and easily separable. Commonly occurs in
veins or matted masses. Colour is usually yellowish green, white or gray. Much of what is popularly called
“asbestos” is actually this serpentine variety. However, some amphiboles, as described below, are also
included in the commercial “asbestos”.

Serpentine is a secondary mineral resulting usually from hydrothermal alteration of olivines, pyroxenes or
amphiboles. Serpentinites consist of masses of green Lizardite/Antigorite that may be cut by veins of
Chrysotile.
 Amphiboles Minerals
(Waheed, 2005)
Some members of the amphibole group also occur in fibrous form and are included in the category
of asbestiform minerals. More common amphiboles that fall in this category include:
H2Ca7Si8O24
Tremolite (Ca-Mg amphibole):
H2Ca2Mg5Si8O24 or 2CaO.5MgO.8SiO2.H2O Ca
Actinolite (Ca-Fe amphibole):
H2Ca2Fe5Si8O24 or 2CaO.5FeO.8SiO2.H2O
Riebeckite/Crocidolite (Na-Fe):
H2Na2Fe5Si8O24 or Na2O.3FeO.F2O3.8SiO2.H2O
Calcic amphiboles
Cummingtonite/grunerite (Mg-Fe): Tremolite H2Ca2Fe5Si8O24
H2(Mg,Fe)7Si8O24 or 7(MgO.FeO).8SiO2.H2O H2Ca2Mg5Si8O24 Actinolite Ferro
Actinolite

Cummingtonite
H2Mg7Si8O24 Mg Fe H2Fe7Si8O24
Grunerite
Chemical compositions of the above
amphiboles are further explained by Glaucophane Riebeckite
their relative positions on the H2Na2Mg3Al2Si8O24 Sodic amphiboles (Crocidolite)
amphibole ternary diagrams : H2Na2Fe5Si8O24

Na
H2Na14Si8O24
Tremolite-Actinolite

Tremolite (Ca-Mg) and Ferro-actinolite (Ca-Fe) amphiboles represent a solid solution series between the two end members.
Tremolite has more than 90% Mg
Actinolite has 90 – 50% Mg
Ferro-actinolite has < 50% Mg

Tremolite is white to dark gray in colour. It occurs as long columnar crystals, fibrous aggregates and in massive form.

Actinolite is bright to grayish green in colour. It occurs as columnar crystals and radiating and fibrous aggregates; also in
massive form. Fibrous variety is called asbestiform actinolite.

The extremely dense and massive variety of tremolite-actinolite is called nephrite jade. It is softer than the jadeite jade that
belongs to the pyroxene group.

Tremolite and actinolite are common metamorphic minerals under contact and regional metamorphism.

Tremolite may be used as an asbestos mineral and has been identified as a possible health hazard along with chrysotile
serpentine and other asbestiform minerals of the amphibole group.

Crocidolite

Crocidolite is the asbestiform variety of the mineral species riebeckite that is a Na-Fe amphibole. Its colour is dark blue to black.
Its occurrence is common in metamorphosed iron formations. It is also known as Blue Asbestos. The fibres are long and
delicate and are easily separable.

Cummingtonite & Grunerite

Cummingtonite and grunerite form solid solution series and vary in composition from Mg to Fe amphiboles.

Cummingtonite has 70 – 50% Mg-amphibole

Grunerite has 50 – 0% Mg-amphibole

Both cummingtonite and grunerite occur in lamellar, fibrous and radiating forms. Both are brown in colour and show silky lustre.
Serpentine, Amphibole
Crystal Structure and Shape
SPA Asbestiform
Field Mapping Program
 Lawewu Quarry
Mapping Area

Konde North Solia

Bonsora East Triple A/Brinda

Konde West
Loraine Mahalona Quarry
Betsy Quarry
Manggali Marlene

Hasan North Delaney

Evita

Fiona Farah
Lamangka South
/Test Pit

Mapping Area
Tools
-PPE (Helmet, safety glasses, Gloves, Safety shoes)
-Map 1 : 500 scale with contour, BZ body and road.
-GPS
-Compass
-Magsus
-Camera
-Magnetic Pen
-Scratcher
-Loupe
-Tape
-Marker
-Notes
-Plastic sample.
 Mapping Technique
Preparation
-Plan schedule : - Hill priority sequence
- Timing Completion.
-Study Literature.
-General Evaluation for such area.
-Observe accessibility into mapping area.
-Preparing tools.

Mapping.
-Mostly in fracture and vein.
-Plotting observation location/ station: GPS work (X,Y)
-Detail description for mineral being sample..
- Color, Hardness, Cleavage, Streak, Luster, Magnetism, mineral associate, etc.
-Base rock detail description.
-Measurement of fracture dimension.
-Numbering for Sample and Tape.

Office Work
-Data input and compilation into Database.
-GIS activity
-Lab Analysis (Fused, XRD and petrographic)
-Regular evaluation for the work have been done.