Articles | Volume 36, issue 5
https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-36-749-2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-36-749-2024
Research article
 | 
10 Sep 2024
Research article |  | 10 Sep 2024

When detection and quantification of mineral fibres in natural raw materials are at their limit – the case of a clay from the Gomsiqe–Puka mining area (Albania)

Alessandro F. Gualtieri, Simona Marchetti Dori, Daniele Malferrari, Tommaso Giovanardi, Riccardo Fantini, Francesco Colombo, Mattia Sisti, Rossella Arletti, Maria Cristina Gamberini, Eleonora Braschi, Andrea Orlando, and Enrico Mugnaioli

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Cited articles

Ábalos, B., Puelles, P., and Ibarguchi, J. I. G.: Polyphase tectonic reworking of serpentinites and chlorite-tremolite-talc rocks (SW Spain) from the subduction forearc to intracontinental emplacement, J. Metamorph. Geol., 41, 491–523, 2022. 
Apollaro, C., Fuoco, I., Vespasiano, G., De Rosa, R., Cofone, F., Miriello, D., and Bloise, A.: Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of tremolite asbestos contained in the Gimigliano-Mount Reventino Unit (Calabria, south Italy), J. Mediterranean Earth Sci., 10, 5–15, 2018. 
Baietto, O.: Naturally Occurring Asbestos: the problem of quantification. Doctoral Dissertation Doctoral Program in Energy Engineering (31st Cycle), University of Torino, Italy, 2019. 
Baietto, O., Diano, M., Zanetti, G., and Marini, P.: Grinding test on tremolite with fibrous and prismatic habit, Fibers, 7, 52, https://doi.org/10.3390/fib7060052, 2019. 
Ballirano, P., Andreozzi, G. B., and Belardi, G.: Crystal chemical and structural characterization of fibrous tremolite from Susa Valley, Italy, with comments on potential harmful effects on human health, Am. Mineral., 93, 1349–1355, 2008. 
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Short summary
This work deals with a challenging case of a commercial clay from Gomsiqe–Puka (Albania) contaminated by mineral fibres. Detection and quantification of asbestos in this material push the boundaries of current experimental methods. Using TEM, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and EPMA, we identified the presence of asbestos tremolite, along with a rare fibrous variety of diopside. The impact of milling on the detection and quantification of mineral fibres was also evaluated.
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