Philip Morris
Selection and Characterization of Fibrous and Nonfibrous Amphiboles for Analytical Methods Development
Fields
- Author
- Draftz, R.G.
- Haartz, J.C.
- Lange, B.A.
- Scholl, R.F.
- Haartz, J.C.
- Type
- SCRT, REPORT, SCIENTIFIC
- ABST, ABSTRACT
- BIBL, BIBLIOGRAPHY
- CHAR, CHART, GRAPH, TABLE, MAPS
- PHOT, PHOTOGRAPH
- ABST, ABSTRACT
- Area
- SOLANA,RICHARD/CENTRAL FILES
- Litigation
- Fali/Produced
- Characteristic
- EXTR, EXTRA
- Site
- R545
- Named Organization
- Niosh, Natl Inst for Occupational Safety & Health
- Public Health Service
- Workshop on Asbestos
- Field Museum
- Iit Research Inst
- Intl Union Against Cancer
- Measurements Research Branch
- Natl Bureau of Standards
- Public Health Service
- Author (Organization)
- Center for Disease Control
- Hew, Dept of Health Education and Welfare
- Iit Research Inst
- Niosh, Natl Inst for Occupational Safety & Health
- Public Health Service
- Hew, Dept of Health Education and Welfare
- Named Person
- Crable, J.V.
- Haartz, J.C.
- Stewart, I.
- Woodland, B.G.
- Haartz, J.C.
- Master ID
- 2063104795/5283
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- Date Loaded
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Document Images
National Bureau of Standards Special Publication 506. Proceedings of the Workshop on
Asbestos: Definitions and Measurement Methods held at NBS, Gaithersburg, MD, July 18-20,
1977. (Issued November 1978)
SELECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FIBROUS AND NONFIBROUS AMPHIBDLES FOR
ANALYTICAL METHODS DEVELOPMENT
J. C. Haartz and B. A. Lange
U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
and
R. G. Draftz and R. F. Scholl
IIT Research Institute (IITRI)
10 West 35th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60616
Abstract
More than 50 mineral specimens of fibrous and prismatic
(nonfibrous) amphibole species, including tremolite, grunerite, and
cummingtonite, were collected and characterized to determine their
suitability for use as reference materials in the development of
analytical methods. These methods will be used for the detection and
measurement of hazardous materials which are found as workplace
contaminants. The specimens have been characterized using light
microscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), and differential thermal analysis
(DTA). Some of these specimens have been purified by appropriate
physical or chemical techniques and then ground to provide a material
with a mass median particle size of less than 10 Nm (major) diameter.
The results of characterization studies of the minerals, including a
comparison of the properties determined for each of the specimens, are
presented. Differences in physical properties of the fibrous and
prismatic tremolite specimens are indicated by the data obtained from OTA
and XRD studies. While the prepared quantity of each mineral is quite
limited, the source of each of the specimen materials and the appropriate
methods of sample preparation have been carefully documented should
additional quantities be desired.
Key Words: Amphibole asbestos; cummingtonite; grunerite; thermal
analysis; tremolite; x-ray diffraction.
Introduction=
Under the provisions of the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
(PL 91-596), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is charged
with the responsibility for research related to occupational health, including the develop-
ment and evaluation of analytical methods for the determination of hazardous workplace
contaminants. To meet this charge, the Measurements Research Branch of NIOSH has a
program concerned with the development of new analytical methods as well as with the
iMention of product or trace names does not constitute endorsement by the Public Health
Service.
295
2063105089

evaluation and improvement of existing methods. Many mineral dusts, such as those of the
silica polymorphs, talc, and asbestos minerals, are included in the hazardous materials
for which analytical methods are needed. Earlier work in the NIOSH laboratory showed that
it was feasible to quantitatively determine by x-raydiffraction techniques (XRD) chryso-
tile, amosite, and crocidolite using either samples of the bulk material or of airborne
dust collected on filters [1]2. However, further work rather graphically demonstrated the
fact that specimens of a mineral originating from different deposits often exhibit signif-
icant variations in impurity content and crystallinity [2], and consequently also exhibit
vast differences in their response to analytical measurement techniques. It was obvious
that reference materials were needed for the development of analytical methods, that these
materials should be from natural sources, and that they be selected on the basis of purity,
especially as to an absence of other similar minerals. Pure minerals could then be mixed
with other materials to simulate the mixtures found in samples collected from occupational
environments.
For asbestos, the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) Standard Reference Samples
[3] are available as reference materials for chrysotile, amosite, anthophyllite, and
crocidolite. These samples have been well characterized with respect to overall chemical
composition (elemental weight o/o) and fiber length distribution [4]. There are also some
data relating to sample response to heat treatment, and the electron and x-ray diffraction
properties [4,5]. However, since these materials were collected and prepared to provide
reference samples for inhalation and injection experiments, they were chosen not for phase
purity but to be representative of the various types of asbestos used by industry.
Further, the UICC samples do not include specimens of the prismatic (nonfibrous) forms of
the minerals.
. Other reference materials were also needed by NIOSH for the methods development and
evaluation program. Consequently, an effort to collect and characterize at least four
representative specimens of each of eighteen minerals from different geographical
locations was initiated. Table 1 lists the minerals sought and the techniques used for
preliminary characterization of the samples. Following the preliminary evaluation and
characterization of these samples, the "best" source specimens were chosen for
beneficiation, grinding to a respirable size range, and for further characterization and
analysis for impurities. A one kilogram quantity of the ground material was established
as the final, processed amount to be prepared of each mineral. It was expected that this
amount would suffice as reference material for NIOSH analytical research; the source of
selected specimens and the appropriate methods for sample preparation were carefully
documented should additional quantities be desired.
The following discussion will cover the selection, preliminary separation techniques,
beneficiation, grinding, and characterization of some of the amphibole species. Details
concerning the other minerals will be published separately.
Selection of Minerals
More than 80 sources were contacted to obtain the approximately 50 samples of mineral
specimens containing amphiboles which were received and inspected. Of these samples, 12
were discarded based on macroscopic examination; 38 were carried through the preliminary
characterization steps prior to the final selection of the eleven "best" amphibole
samples. Since the final quantity of each mineral needed was large (one kilogram), speci-
mens were chosen based on (1) the least contamination by other minerals and the contrast-
ing habit, and, (2) the amenability of the specimen to beneficiation for removal of
contaminant phases.
ZFigures in brackets indicate the literature references at the end of this paper.
296

C3
Table 1. Reference materials sought.
Mineral Characterization Techniques
Silica
-Quartz
-Cristobalite
-Tridymite
X-ray Diffraction
Beryl Infra-red Spectroscopy
Bunsenite (Ni0) Thermal Analysis
Fluorite (TG and DTA)
Talc
Fibrous Serpentine
-Chrysotiie
Platy Serpentine
-Antigorite
Fibrous Amphiboles
-Crocidolite Macroscopic Habit
-Grunerite ("Amosite") Light Microscopy
-Anthophyllite X-ray Diffraction
-Tremolite Thermal Analysis
Prismatic Amphiboles
-Riebeckite
-Grunerite
-Cunmingtonite
-Anthophyllite
-Tremalite
N
O
297 °i
w
.+
0
(A
0
e
.,

'3`
After a macroscopic inspection of the specimens as received, using a hand magnifier,
portions were hand ground in an agate or diamonite mortar and pestle. The ground samples
were dry sieved to pass, a_325 mesh screen and were further characterized using polarized
light microscopy, qualitative x-ray diffraction (XRD), and qualitative differential
thermal analysis (OTA). The types and quantities of impurities were noted for each of the
specimens, and careful scrutiny was given to the mineral morphology, especially for the
samples needed for the fibrous and prismatic (or nonfibrous) habits.
For macroscopic specimens, the mineralogical criteria distinguishing the fibrous from
the prismatic habit are unequivocal. This is illustrated by the samples of tremolite
which are shown in figures 1 through 4. The origin of the fibrous tremolite shown in
figure 1 is Alaska, while that of figure 2 is a small sample from Italy which was
collected in approximately 1890 and has since been in the collection of the Field Museum
of Natural History in Chicago, IL. It was not possible to locate a contemporary source
of fibrous tremolite in Italy. The prismatic tremolite in figure 3 is from South Dakota
and is a fairly pure sample with an acicular radiated structure which is quite evident in
the hand specimens. The sample shown in figure 4 contains interlaced prismatic tremolite,
talc and other impurities. Although the individual tremolite "needles" are colorless, the
sample has a lavender color which may be due to manganese substitutions [G].
Figure 1. Fibrous tremolite:
Alaska, 1X.
Figure 2. Fibrous tremolite:
Tuscany, Italy, 1X.
298

Figure 3. Prismatic tremolite with calcite: South Dakota, 0.57X.
Figure 4. Prismatic tremolite
with talc and other
impurities, 0.5X.
Distinguishing between the fibrous and prismatic habits is less straightforward with
microscopic specimens. The photomicrographs of tremolite (figures 5 and 6) illustrate the
appearance of fibrous and prismatic tremolite specimens ground to a mean particle size of
3.1 pm and 1.7 pm respectively. Similarities in particle shape are evident, although the
mean aspect ratio of the fibrous tremolite particles is greater than that of the cleavage
fragments of the prismatic material.
299
2063105093

Figure 5. Fibrous tremolite:
Rajasthan State, India, 407X.
Figure 6. Prismatic tremolite:
Gouverneur, New York, 407X.
Table 2 lists the amphiboles, and their sources, which were chosen for any necessary
beneficiation and final grinding. The impurities listed are those contaminants determined
by microscopic analysis of the hand-separated portions of the desired phase. Some of the
amphiboles, including the samples of prismatic and fibrous tremolite as well as
crocidolite, were obtained as nearly pure, single phase specimens. Others, such as the
prismatic grunerite, anthophyllite, and cummingtonite were intermixed with accessory
minerals. Hand specimens of the amphiboles selected for preparation as reference
materials are illustrated in figures 7-14.
8
00 a
w
r+
0
~
0
e
A

C 03
Table 2. Aophibole sources.
Mineral Geographical Origin Representative Impurities
Tremolite
Fibrous Udaipur District Plant fragments
Rajasthan, India (carbonaceous) & other
minerals, <3%
Prismatic Gouverneur, N.Y. Talc, Limestone,
Hematite, <2X
Cummingtonite Homestake Mine, Calcite, Quartz,
Lead, So. Dakota other minerals, %30%
Grunerite
Fibrous Lydenburg District Magnetite & other
("Amosite") Transvaal, South Africa minerals, <11%
Prismatic Luce #1 Mine Quartz, Magnetite,
Newfoundland other minerals, ~50%
Anthophyllite
Fibrous Bozeman, Montana Magnetite, Calcite &
other minerals, <11%
Prismatic 8amble, Norway Quartz, Mica, Rutile,
Magnetite, other
minerals, +25%
Crocidolite South Africa Phases which are too fine
to identify, <2%
Riebeckite St. Peter's Dome Quartz, feldspar, iron
El Paso County, Colorado oxide, and other
minerals, ~15%
301

CIS
Figure 7. Fibrous tremolite: Rajasthan State, India, IX.
Figure 8. Prismatic cumningtonite with associated minerals:
Homestake Mine, Lead, South Dakota, O.8X.
302

a.
I
Figure 9. Fibraus grunerite ("Amosite"): Lydenburg District,
Transvaal, South Africa, 0.8X.
Figure 10. Prismatic grunerite with quartz: Luce No. 1 Mine,
Newfoundland, O.SX.
303

COS
Figure 11. Fibrous anthophyllite: Bozeman, Montana, IX.
Figure 12. Prismatic anthophyllite with quartz: Bamble. Norway, 0.8X.
04 N
O
W
~.
0
w
0
b
OC

Figure 13. Crocidolite (fibrous riebeckite): South Africa, 0.57X.
Figure 14. Prismatic riebeckite (black) with quartz and feldspar:
St. Peter's Dome, El Paso County, Colorado, 1X.
305

Separation and Grinding Techniques
For those samples which required beneficiation to produce the pure minerals,
separation techniques were chosen ,which would adequately liberate the desired phases and
least adversely affect their purity. In order to conserve the selected minerals,
techniques were chosen which could be applied to material varying widely in size. The
preliminary size reduction necessary for beneficiation and grinding of the fibrous
amphiboles was accomplished using a rock saw with diamond-impregnated blades. For the
nonfibrous amphiboles, a large mortar and pestle were fabricated from strongly magnetic
stainless steels so that metals abraded from the equipment during crushing could be
removed from the ground material using a magnet. All beneficiation steps were done before
the final grinding to allow efficient use of the mineral extraction methods, which are
severely limited if the particle size is too smali. To avoid chemical alteration of the
desired phases, beneficiation was generally limited to physical methods [7]. The final
grinding was designed to produce nonfibrous materials which had a mass median aerodynamic
diameter between 0.5 and 5.0 pm, and a maximum size of 10 pm. For the fibrous materials,
the desired median length was the range 2-10 pm, with a maximum length of 200 pm.
Beneficiation Methods
Simple, primarily physical methods of mineral extraction were employed. Three types
of hand separation were used: (1) With a mason's hammer and chisels, the available
specimen material was "high-graded" to obtain pieces with the greatest concentration of
the desired phase; from these, the larger masses of impurities were cobbed. (2) The rock
saw was used to cut cross-fiber vein materials into slabs one centimeter thick measured
along the fiber length. The slabs were then chipped into small pencils of fibers for
further beneficiation and/or preparation for milling. The saw was also used to cut wall
rock from the margins of cross-fiber vein specimens of fibrous grunerite, anthophyllite,
and crocidolite. (3) Hand picking, or for ferromagnetic minerals a powerful hand magnet,
was used to remove small quantities of obvious contaminants at any stage in the size
reduction procedure.
Only two beneficiation techniques were used in which mineral specimens were exposed
to the risk of chemical alteration. Slow dissolution of carbonate minerals from specimens
of tremolite and actinolite was accomplished by digestion in dilute (ti3 N) acetic acid.
Bromoform and tetrabromoethane were used for density separations of quartz, micas, and
other silicates from tremolite, cumsingtonite and grunerite. After separation, the
samples were rinsed repeatedly, with acetone or ethanol and then distilled water, to
remove residues of the organic liquids.
Grinding Techniques
Research has shown that some grinding mechanisms degrade the crystalline structure of
minerals, particularly asbestiform species, to a considerable degree. Shearing and
cutting (in the sense of pinching) actions are reported to be very destructive to
crystallinity [8]. Initial attempts in this program to grind asbestos in ball mills
equipped with lifter bars confirmed this observation. Impact between air-suspended
particles and/or impact of elongate fragments on cutting edges accomplished size reduction
with much less reduction in crystallinity, as shown by x-ray diffraction studies.
Therefore, grinding tests were made to identify milling devices which exploit the free
impact principle and which could efficiently produce large quantities of respirable size
particles.
For size reductions of fibrous amphiboles, a fiber mill (Retsch Ultracentrifugal-mill,
Type ZM-1) was chosen. In this device a rotor with vertical pins at the periphery spins
at 10,000 or 20,000 rpm impelling fibers outward against the perforated wall of the
grinding chamber (sieve ring) on which cutting edges are angled toward the oncoming
particles. The non-fibrous amphiboles were ground using a jet mill (Micron-master Jet
Pulverizer) in which tangentially inward-directed jets of dry, filtered air (50 scfm at 90
psig) circulate the feed material in an annular grinding chamber. Size reduction is
accomplished by impact between particles; the air stream minimizes particle contact with
the walls of the grinding chamber. Additional advantages of the fiber mill and jet mill
for this work are: (1) the carrying air stream controls heat build-up in the equipment
306

C2
thereby reducing the risk of thermal degradation of the material being milled. (2)
Virtually all particles are subjected to size reduction with each pass of material through
the mill. (3) Each mill is provided with a cyclone collector, thus providing coarse and
fine fractions. (4) The continuous processes permit efficient size reduction of kilogram
quantities of fibrous and nonfibrous amphiboles to the specified size by iterative milling
without additional size classification steps. Table 3 presents particle size
distributions for fibrous and prismatic tremolite reduced to final size by the respective
milling devices.
Table 3. Particle sizesa of "reference" tremolite samples after grinding.
Fibrous (India) Prismatic (New York)
Size Range
(um) Number
Percentage Size Range
(lim) _ Number
Percentage
<2 37.4 <1 28.0
2-6 35.8 1-3 47.0
6-10 15.4 3-5 18.3
10-20 6.9 5-7 5.9
20-80 3.6 7-10 0.8
80-160 0.9 >10 0.0
>160 0
3.1 pm Geometric Mean 1.7 pm Geometric Mean
a Particle sizes determined using optical microscopy. For fibrous
tremolite, fiber length is reported; for prismatic tremolite,
Feret's diameter.
Analytical Studies
Analytical studies have been initiated using two of the "reference" materials from
this program, the fibrous and prismatic tremolite samples. In addition to these
"reference" samples, which were processed by IITRI, and which were carefully characterized
as to identity, source, and particle size, a number of samples from the NIOSH mineral
collection were used. These samples were included in the analyses to allow comparisons of
tremolite specimens from various sources and geographical locations to determine if
general characteristics of tremolite specimens could be delineated by obtaining additional
experimental data. The NI05H specimens were ground in a SPEX freezer mill at liquid
nitrogen temperatures, sieved through a 10 pm sieve, and sized using electron microscopy
techniques. The ground material had a mean particle length or diameter of <3.0 pm. The
following sections summarize the preliminary results obtained in the studies of tremolite.
Chemical Analyses
The relative iron, magnesium, and calcium content of several of the specimens used in
these studies was determined in order to confirm the designation of these amphiboles as
tremolite. To minimize contamination which could occur from contact with metallic
surfaces during grinding, pieces of the hand specimens instead of ground material were
used for the analyses. These pieces were dissolved by heating in a mixture of HF and
concentrated HC1. Blind replicate analyses were done for each of the specimens using
307
2063105101

atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results (table 4) for the ratio (Fe + Mg : Ca)
and the calculated weight percent Fe0 indicate that all of, the samples fall within the
empirical composition limits for tremolite [9], including a specimen previously identified
as prismatic actinolite. In general, the specimens of fibrous tremolite contain more iron
than the prismatic form although the South Korean sample of fibrous tremolite was an
exception.
Table 4. Chemical analyses.
Atom Ratio Atom Ratio
Amphibole Fe : Mg : Ca Fe + Mg : Caa Wt. % FeO
Prismatic Tremolite
Gouverneur, N.Y.b 1: 205 : 78 5.3 : 2.0 0.21
South Dakota 1: 44 : 21 4.3 : 2.0 1.03
Fibrous Tremolite
Rajasthan, Indiab
1: 13 :
6
4.7 :
2.0
2.87
Alaska 1: 13 : 6 4.7 : 2.0 3.03
Korea 1: 33 : 16 4.3 : 2.0 0.69
Italy I : 31 : 14 4.6 : 2.0 1.43
Prismatic Actinolitec
South Dakota
1: 15 :
7
4.6 :
2.0
2.63
a Theoretical limit of ratio = 5:2.
b"Reference" material, supplied by IITRI.
c Classification based on color and location of source.
X-Ray Diffraction Studies
For the x-ray powder diffraction studies of the "reference" tremolites, both bulk
powder samples (packed in cups) and thin layers on silver membrane filters were used. For
the filter studies, homogeneous suspensions of known tremolite concentration in
isopropanol were prepared using ultrasonic agitation to ensure dispersion. Aliquots of
this suspension were filtered through 25 m., 0.45 Nm pore size silver membrane filters.
The calculated weight of treeolite deposited was confirmed by weighing, using a m'cro-
balancp. For both fibrous and prismatic tremolite the 310 and 110 peaks (3.14 A and
8.38 A, CuKa radiation) were step scanned to determine the integrated peak intensities.
The calibration curves (figure 15) were prepared by plotting the net normalized integrated
intensities of these peaks versus the amount of tremolite on the filters.
The data clearly indicate that quantitation of pure samples as small as 20 Ng is
feasible. However, the ratios of the reflections, I131o1I(31o) , age dif~erent for filter
deposits of fibrous and prismatic habits. The peak r3tio (8.38 A:3.4 ) for prismatic
tremolite is approximately 1.0 while that for the fibrous tremolite is approximately 0.40.
Packed bulk samples of both tresalite habits give the same peak ratio, the value of which
is 0.20. Information in the Powder Diffraction File [10] indicates a peak ratio of 1.0
for tremolite from St. Gotthard, Switzerland. The morphology is described as "white
308

.40
40
30
10
0
0 2 0 40 60 80 100 120 140
MICROGRAMS OF TREMOLITE
Figure 15. Calibration curves for fibrous and prismatic tremolite:
n a
Fibrous tremolite: 03.14 A; O 8.38 A
Prismatic tremolite: 3.14 A; 8.38 0
160
C4 2
180
309

radiating fine fibrous~masses," but the term "radiating" suggests it may be a prismatic
form. Data obtained for specimens of.tremolite from other geographical locations indicate
that, for material deposited on filters, the samples of prismatic tremolite in general
show a larger ratio for these peaks than do samples of fibrous tremolite (table 5).
Table 5. Ratio of XRD peaks observed for fibrous and prismatic tremolite.a
Amphibole No. of Replicates Ratio (8.38A:3.14A)
Prismatic Tremolite
Gouverneur, N.Y.b 7 1.04
South Dakota 5 1.08
Newburyport, Mass. 10 1.45
Fibrous Tremolite
Rajasthan, Indiab
7
0.39
Alaska 10 0.55
Korea 5 0.35
Italy 5 1.25
a 150 pg on 0.45 pm pore size silver filters.
b"Reference" material, supplied by IITRI.
At this point no explanation can be advanced to account for the differences in peak
ratios, although the effects observed may be due at least in part to preferred orientation
of the particles in some or all of the samples. Regardless of the reason, the effect is
seen for a variety of samples and for a wide range of filter loadings as demonstrated by
the calibration curves. The distinctions observed using this technique may prove useful
in analytical attempts to ascertain the type of material to which a worker is being
exposed.
Thermal Analysis Studies
Preliminary differential thermal analysis (DTA) studies on tremolite samples have
been completed. These studies included an evaluation of the feasibility of this technique
for the quantitative analysis of tremolite and, while good calibration curves were
obtained, DTA was not sensitive enough to detect microgram quantities of tremolite. The
samples were heated in platinum cups to a temperature of 1150 °C at a heating rate of
10°/min in dry air flowing at 5.7 L/hr; the instrument was calibrated using SrCO3, an NBS-
ICTA Standard Reference Material.
In parallel with the XRD studies of the "reference" tremolite samples, differences
between these samples (table 6) were observed during the thermal studies of fibrous and
prismatic tremolite samples. These differences in peak position and the color of the
decomposition product were observed for samples from other geographical locations as well
as for the "reference samples." Similar differences were observed by IiTRI for those
specimens considered for selection as "reference" materials. All samples displayed the
strong endotherm which is associated with the loss of structural water and the breakdown
of the amphibole structure, which subsequently recrystallizes to a monoclinic pyroxene
j11]. However, the data indicate that in general the fibrous tremolite samples dehydrate
and recrystallize at a lower temperature than do the prismatic tremolite samples. This
310

behavior is analogous to that noted for serpentine, i.e., chrysotile loses structural
water at a lower temperature than does antigorite [12]. Although it is recognized that
differences in particle size, grinding techniques and experimental conditions can affect
the position of a DTA peak [13], data obtained in both the NIOSH and IITRI laboratories
are consistent in showing that the endotherm of fibrous tremolite is lower by
approximately 50 °C than'that of the prismatic tremolite. It was also observed that the
pyroxenes formed from fibrous tremotite were always brown to tan in color while the
pyroxenes formed from the prismatic tremolite were always white in color. However, XRD
scans of the pyroxenes were virtually the same regardless of color or origin of the
specimen and indicated that the final decomposition material was primarily diopside.
Table 6. Thermal analysis of tremolite.a
Amphibole No.
Samples DTAa
Endotherm, °C
Color of Pyroxene
Fibrous Tremolite
NIOSHb
4
1026
± 27
tan
IITRI 1 1002 not determined
Prismatic Tremolite
NIOSHC
5
1078
± 20
white
IITRI 4 1053 ± 11 white
a NIOSH samples included those listed in Table 5 as well as two
additional samples from the Gouverneur, N.Y. area; IITRI samples
include those screened as potential "reference" materials.
b Geometric mean particle length <3.0 pm.
c Geometric mean particle maximum dimension <3.0 pm.
Summary and Conclusion
The analytical studies planned for the reference materials have been initiated
using the tremolite specimens. These studies have indicated that x-ray diffraction may
turn out to be an even more useful tool than expected. The detection limits
obtained and the differences in peak ratios observed for samples of fibrous and
prismatic tremolite on silver filters have potential for applications to analyses
of hazardous, workplace contaminants.
The authors gratefully acknowledge the guidance and assistance received during this
program from J. V. Crable of NIOSH and B. G. Woodland of the Field Museum.
References
[1] Crable, J. V., Am. Ind. !!jq. Assoc. J., 27, 293 (1966).
[2] Nenadic, C. M. and Crable, J. C., Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J., 32, 539 (1971).
[3] Timbrell, V., Gibson, J. C. and Webster, I., Int. J. Cancer, 3, 406 (1968).
311

[4] Timbrell, V., "P'neumonoconiosis. Proceedings Int. Conf.," Johannesburg, 1969,
. 28-36.
[5] Skikne, M. I., Talbot, J. H., and Rendall, R. E. G., Env. Res., 4, 141 (1971).
[6] Deer, W. A., Howie, R. H., and Zussman, J., "Rock-Forming Minerals, Vol. 2, Chain
Silicates," J. Wiley & Sons, N.Y., N.Y. 1963 p. 253.
[7] Muller, L. D., "Laboratory Methods of Mineral Separation," CH. 1, in J. Zussman, ed.,
Physical Methods in Determinative Mineralogy, Academic Press, London & N.Y., 1967.
[8] Ocella, E. and Maddalon, G., Med. Lavoro, 54 (#10), 628 (1963).
[9] See, for example, Deer, W. A., Howie, R. A., and Zussman, J., "Rock-Forming Minerals,
Vol. 2, Chain Silicates," J. Wiley & Sons, N.Y., N.Y. 1963, p. 251.
[10] Powder Diffraction File. Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards, 1601 Park
Lane, Swarthmore, PA 19081.
[11] Deer, W. A., Howie, R. H., and Zussman, J., "Rock-Forming Minerals, Vol. 2, Chain
Silicates," J. Wiley & Sons, N.Y., N.Y. 1963, pg. 254.
[12] Deer, W. A., Howie, R. H., and Zussman, J., "Rock-Forming Minerals, Vol. 3, Sheet
Silicates," J. Wiley & Sons, N.Y., N.Y. 1962, pg. 180.
[13] Martinez, E., Am. Miner., 46, 901 (1961).
Discussion
I. STEWART: Both OTA and x-ray diffraction are very sensitive to packing, and, of
course, this can be related to shape. Did you do any tests to determine whether packing
or repacking would change the relative ratios of peak heights or peak positions?
J. HAARTZ: No, we haven't.
STEWART: Or spinning the sample in x-ray diffraction perhaps?
HAARTZ: The relative ratios of the peaks in x-ray diffraction were the same for
the bulk samples. For the samples that were deposited on a silver filter, that is a
very thin layer; we did see the differences in the peak ratios. This was the case not
only with samples of different origins, but with a great many replicas of the same
material.
STEWART: I see. So, it was purely the fact that it was fibrous, you think? I
didn't quite catch what you meant by your bulk sample. By bulk, I was equating that
with "massive." You mean a bulk fiber sample.
HAARTZ: By a bulk sample, I mean a milligram or more, of either the massive or
fibrous, showed th® same diffraction pattern: identical. When these samples are
deposited as a thin layer on a silver membrane filter and the pattern taken, we do see
differences in the peak ratios.
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