What is tremolite asbestos?
What is tremolite asbestos?
Tremolite asbestos is not mined or used commercially but is a frequent contaminant of chrysotile asbestos, vermiculite, and talc. Therefore, individuals exposed to these materials or to end-products containing these materials may be exposed to tremolite.
Where can I find tremolite?
Within the U.S., there was a limited amount of tremolite mining in Powhatan and Pylesville, Maryland. However, tremolite occurs naturally in California in areas where there is ultramafic rock and serpentinite. Ultramafic rocks are igneous rocks that have extremely low silica content but are rich in iron and magnesium.
Is tremolite a Pleochroic?
Color – Tremolite is clear to light green, may be slightly pleochroic. The color and pleochroism are more pronounced with greater Fe content. Cleavage – Tremolite shows typcial amphibole cleavage. One cleavage in longitudinal sections, and two creating a 60o-120o cleavage angle when viewed in end section.
What is tremolite used for?
Tremolite ranges in color from a milky white to a dark green and is found in other minerals such as talc and vermiculite. Tremolite was previously used in a variety of products such as paint, sealants, insulation, roofing and plumbing materials.
How do you identify tremolite?
Tremolite is a member of the amphibole group of silicate minerals with composition: Ca2(Mg5.0-4.5Fe2+0.0-0.5)Si8O22(OH)2….
| Tremolite | |
|---|---|
| Unit cell | a = 9.84 Å, b = 18.02 Å c = 5.27 Å; β = 104.95°; Z = 2 |
| Identification | |
| Color | White, gray, lavender to pink, light green, light yellow |
Is tremolite rare or common?
Small colorless and transparent tremolite crystals are very rare, and cut gems are true collector items. The largest of these is in the 5-10 carat range. Larger crystals exist but are usually badly fractured. Hexagonite is known in facetable material only from New York and these pieces yield gems to only about carat.
Is tremolite a metamorphic?
Tremolite is an indicator of metamorphic grade since at high temperatures it converts to diopside. Associated minerals include calcite, dolomite, grossular, wollastonite, talc, diopside, forsterite, cummingtonite, riebeckite and winchite.
Is actinolite a Pleochroic?
Strong brown or green coloration and pleochroism, and 60o-120o cleavage angles identify hornblende. Actinolite is similar, but its color ranges from light green (Fe-poor varieties) to dark green (Fe-rich varieties).
What does tremolite look like?
Pure magnesium tremolite is creamy white, but the color grades to dark green with increasing iron content. It has a hardness on Mohs scale of 5 to 6. Nephrite, one of the two minerals of the gemstone jade, is a green variety of tremolite. The fibrous form of tremolite is one of the six recognised types of asbestos.
Is tremolite a silicate mineral?
Tremolite is a silicate mineral and member of the amphibole group.
Can lungs clear chrysotile?
The available data suggest that chrysotile is deposited in the parenchyma but is cleared extremely rapidly, with the vast bulk of fibres removed from human lungs within weeks to months after inhalation; by comparison, amphibole clearance half-lives are of the order of years to decades.
