Mineralogy of mine waste at the Vermont Asbestos Group mine, Belvidere Mountain, Vermont

Abstract

Samples from the surfaces of waste piles at the Vermont Asbestos Group mine in northern Vermont were studied to determine their mineralogy, particularly the presence and morphology of amphiboles. Analyses included powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and Raman spectroscopy. Minerals identified by XRD were serpentine-group minerals, magnetite, chlorite, quartz, olivine, pyroxene, and brucite; locally, mica and carbonates were also present. Raman spectroscopy distinguished antigorite and chrysotile, which could not be differentiated using XRD. Long-count, short-range XRD scans of the (110) amphibole peak showed trace amounts of amphibole in most samples. Examination of amphiboles in tailings by optical microscopy, SEM, and EPMA revealed non-fibrous amphiboles compositionally classified as edenite, magnesiohornblende, magnesiokatophorite, and pargasite. No fibrous amphibole was found in the tailings, although fibrous tremolite was identified in a sample of host rock. Knowledge of the mineralogy at the site may lead to better understanding of potential implications for human health and aid in designing a remediation plan.

Strategizing Carbon-Neutral Mines: A Case for Pilot Projects

“…We refer to this process as passive carbonation because it occurs without human mediation and is not an intended outcome of the TSF design. Passive carbonation has been documented at Clinton Creek [18,20], Diavik [17,21], and Mount Keith [11,19] as well as other abandoned and active mine sites in Canada, United States, Australia, and Norway [24,26,30,42].…”

“…Ultramafic and mafic mines generate vast quantities of mine tailings that offer a readily available, fine-grained feedstock for carbonation. As an indication of their reactivity, passive carbonation of ultramafic tailings has been documented at several sites under normal mining conditions [11,17,18,20,21,24,26,30]. Tailings storage facilities (TSFs) for ultramafic and mafic mine wastes are typically designed solely to hold tailings and recycle process water.…”

Experimental Deployment of Microbial Mineral Carbonation at an Asbestos Mine: Potential Applications to Carbon Storage and Tailings Stabilization

“…Mining activity has ceased at many of these locations; however, megatons of tailings containing asbestiform minerals remain, posing a threat to the health of nearby residents [24] and polluting natural waterways [22]. Although the mineralogy of the tailings at derelict asbestos mines is well characterized [8,21,25], and asbestos mineral hazard-assessment guidelines are available [26,27], the challenge of remediating this industrial waste remains unsolved. Targeting asbestos mine tailings as a feedstock for mineral carbonation has the potential to aid in tailings containment and remediation with the added value of offsetting carbon emissions.…”

Framework for assessment and phytoremediation of asbestos-contaminated sites

“…Other NOA localities include mines or quarries for heavy metals or other materials, such as several chromite mines in the Eastern US (Pearre and Heyl Jr 1960; Van Gosen 2007a) and a vermiculite mine contaminated with amphibole asbestos in Libby, MT (Bandli and Gunter 2006). Vegetation may be absent or reduced in some mining areas (Meyer 1980), in part due to the presence of other pollutants such as Ni and Cr (Levitan et al 2015). Indeed, asbestos pollution is found in many sites with asbestos and heavy metal gradients.…”