Multi-Analytical Approach for Asbestos Minerals and Their Non-Asbestiform Analogues: Inferences from Host Rock Textural Constraints

Abstract

The analytical protocol included optical microscopy (OM), scanning and transmission electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM/EDS; TEM/EDS), micro-Raman spectroscopy and synchrotron radiation X-ray microtomography (SR X-ray μCT). The latter is an original non-destructive approach that allows the observation of the fiber arrangement in a three-dimensional space, avoiding morphological influence as a result of comminution.

Keywords

• texture
• naturally occurring asbestos
• morphology
• cleavage fragments
• asbestiform and fibrous minerals
• environmental monitoring