Erionite
Erionite | ||
---|---|---|
Specific gravity 2.09 - 2.13 avg = 2.11 | | |
Optical properties | Uniaxial (-) | |
Refractive index | nω = 1.4711, nε = 1.474 | |
Birefringence | δ = 0.0191 | |
Other characteristics | non-magnetic, non-radioactive, toxic if inhaled | |
References | [2] |
Erionite is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that belongs to a group of minerals called
Properties
The chemical composition of erionite is approximately represented by the formula (Na
2,K
2,Ca)
2Al
4Si
14O
36•15H
2O. It can be differentiated into Erionite-Na, Erionite-K, and Erionite-Ca forms based on the most dominant component. Erionite has a hexagonal, cage-like structure composed of a framework of linked tetrahedra. It consists of white prismatic crystals in radiating groups of crystal fiber. Erionite absorbs up to 20% of its weight in water, has a specific gravity of 2.02 to 2.13, and has gas absorption, ion exchange, and catalytic properties that are highly selective and depend on the molecular size of the absorbed compounds.[6] Zeolites, in general, have good thermal stability, rehydration kinetics, and water vapor adsorption capacity.
Carcinogenicity
Erionite is known to be a human carcinogen and is listed by the
There is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity of erionite in
Exposure
Deposits of fibrous erionite are located in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah, as well in urban Auckland in New Zealand.[12] These zeolite beds may be up to 15 ft (4.6 m) thick and may lie in surface outcroppings. Erionite fibers have been detected in samples of road dust in Nevada and U.S. residents of the Intermountain West may be potentially exposed to fibrous erionite in ambient air.[6][13] In the summer of 2009 North Dakota began a study of possible erionite exposure among residents.[14] Erionite has also been identified in samples from the Tertiary Arikaree Formation in southeast Montana and northwest South Dakota.
In the past, occupational exposure occurred from erionite mining and production operation. Nowadays potential occupational exposure to erionite usually occurs during the production and mining of other zeolites. Erionite was also reported to be a minor component in some commercial zeolites.[15] Therefore, the use of other zeolites may result in potential exposure to erionite for the workers and the general population who use the zeolites in a variety of processes and products. Total dust exposures for miners in an open-pit zeolite mine that contained some erionite in Arizona ranged from 0.01 to 13.7 mg/m3; respirable dust in the mining area was 0.01 to 1.4 mg/m3.[6] Erionite is held responsible for the high incidence of
Gallery
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Erionite-Ca
-
Erionite-K
-
Erionite and Offretite
-
Erionite in Arizona
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Erionite in Veneto
See also
References
- S2CID 235729616.
- ^ "General Erionite-Na Information". Mineralogy Database. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ^ "Erionite". North Dakota Department of Health. Archived from the original on 12 June 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ^ "Erionite". National Cancer Institute. 20 March 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
- ^ "The Mineral Erionite". Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ^ PMID 2824337.
- ^ PMID 3482203.
- S2CID 31259709.
- ^ PMID 1848965.
- ^ PMID 16537834.
- PMID 21788493.
- ^ Salmond, Jennifer; Brook, Martin (23 September 2020). "What lies beneath: is this the new asbestos?". Newsroom. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- PMID 6299723.
- ^ "North Dakota Erionite Study Finally Underway". Mesothelioma SOS. 16 June 2009. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
- ^ Mondale, K. D., F. A. Mumpton and F. F. Aplan. 1978. Beneficiation of Natural Zeolites from Bowie, Arizona: A Preliminary Report. In Natural Zeolites: Occurrences, Properties, Uses. L. B. Sand and F. A. Mumpton, eds. New York: Pergamon Press. p. 527-537.
- ^ ERİSA DAUTAJ ŞENERDEM (6 October 2010). "Burial planned for Turkish 'cancer city'". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
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