Nucleation of naturally occurring calcic amphibole asbestos. 2023

Maxime Misseri
Sorbonne University, UTC, EA 4297 UTC/ESCOM, F-60205, Compiègne, Cedex, France. Electronic address: maxime.misseri@ad-lab.fr.

This article proposes an initial model of natural asbestiform minerals growing in four stages. Structures dating from the early stages of the development were observed in the damaged zone surrounding meso-fractures, more particularly in microfractures, microcavities and microcracks that lie in front of and along mesofractures. This study is limited to calcium amphiboles cross-fibers, which develop from altered calcium amphiboles. The observations were made using PLM, with some using TEM. The samples are amphibolites, dolerites and skarns from France. All these rocks have in common that they have been exposed to hydrothermal circulation which gives them a propylite character. The earliest phenomenon was the development of metasomatic veins. In these veins, actinolite form pseudomorphs after hornblendes. The new amphiboles preserve the original morphology of hornblende, in particular the appearance of the cleavages. In the second stage, hydrothermal Fluid circulation promotes the development of subgrains (DSG) with boundaries generally parallel to the cleavage. Some sub-grains become thinner and more and more individualized due to dissolution by the hydrothermal fluid. The third stage is fracturing. The irregular ends of DSGs and amphibole debris can form the substrate of asbestiform mineral nuclei. Further dissolution of DSGs can also lead to the creation of substrates. The last stage is the nucleation and growth. The nuclei have a conical shape and variable widths, from a few microns to about ten microns. The basal parts of the asbestos minerals (BPAMs) extend the DSGs along the c axis. BPAMs have variable widths and can divide during their development at the level of transverse microcracks. BPAMs when not dividing have a morphology comparable to that of whisker nanocrystals synthesized using the vapor-liquid-crystal mechanism. The shape of the fragments from BPMAs is close to that of DSGs as both have variable widths and both have lengths controlled by microcracks.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008903 Minerals Native, inorganic or fossilized organic substances having a definite chemical composition and formed by inorganic reactions. They may occur as individual crystals or may be disseminated in some other mineral or rock. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed; McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Mineral
D002118 Calcium A basic element found in nearly all tissues. It is a member of the alkaline earth family of metals with the atomic symbol Ca, atomic number 20, and atomic weight 40. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body and combines with phosphorus to form calcium phosphate in the bones and teeth. It is essential for the normal functioning of nerves and muscles and plays a role in blood coagulation (as factor IV) and in many enzymatic processes. Coagulation Factor IV,Factor IV,Blood Coagulation Factor IV,Calcium-40,Calcium 40,Factor IV, Coagulation
D001194 Asbestos Asbestos. Fibrous incombustible mineral composed of magnesium and calcium silicates with or without other elements. It is relatively inert chemically and used in thermal insulation and fireproofing. Inhalation of dust causes asbestosis and later lung and gastrointestinal neoplasms.
D017636 Asbestos, Amphibole A class of asbestos that includes silicates of magnesium, iron, calcium, and sodium. The fibers are generally brittle and cannot be spun, but are more resistant to chemicals and heat than ASBESTOS, SERPENTINE. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 11th ed) Amphibole,Amphibole Asbestos,Amphiboles,Asbestos, Amphibole-group Minerals,Asbestos, Amphibole group Minerals

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