A proper way to address the presence of asbestos in your mining operation.

1. The Implementation of the NSSGA Mineral
Identification and Management Guide for the
Aggregate Industry

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 Background
 Getting identification correct
 Why is it important to get it correct?
 Where does it apply?
 Preventative Steps
 Qualitative Geologic Survey
Contents

4. Background
• Not an industry standard.
• One tool in a toolbox of ways to address the issue
• Meant to be modified by individuals to best fit current needs
• Developed to assess whether asbestos is present at an aggregate
mining site or other fibers of asbestiform habit.
• Does not address other mining safety concerns.
• Amphibole group minerals’ asbestiform varieties regulated by the
US EPA, OSHA, MSHA include:
– Chrysotile, Actinolite Asbestos, Crocidolite (Riebekite Asbestos),
Amosite (Cummingtonite-Grunerite Asbestos), Anthophyllite
Asbestos, Tremolite Asbestos.
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Getting Identification Correct

6. Importance of getting it correct
• The non asbestos variety of these minerals occur throughout the
United States in aggregate operations.
• Aggregate material is used in a wide variety of applications and
products.
• To refute poor geologic work and reports of false positives at
your quarry or S&G pit.
• To uncover an undocumented occurrence which leads to worker
exposure and potential future litigation.
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7. Aggregate Uses
• Concrete
– Bridge beams, buildings,
homes, roads, runways,
etc..
• Asphalt and Roadstone
– Roads, runways, School
playgrounds, parking lots,
footpaths, cycleways,
constructional fill, armor
stone, gabion stone, etc…
• Railroad Ballast
• Mortar
• Agricultural uses
• Other
– Flue-gas de-sulphurisation
in coal fired power plants,
whitening agent or filler in
paper, adhesives, roof
shingles, paint, plastics,
PVC, toothpaste, medical
tablets, make-up, cleaning
products, etc…
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Where does it apply?

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With Asbestos Occurrences

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Preventative Steps…

11. Preventative Steps
• Periodic on-site inspections by a qualified geologist
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 Walking visual inspection of
quarry or S&G pit to uncover
suspect areas where asbestos
might be found.
 Closer examination of such
areas with carefully documented
collection of rock samples to be
analyzed by a qualified
laboratory for the presence or
absence of asbestos.
 Understanding of geologic
environment from literature

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• Settled dust collection and analysis
Preventative Steps
 Collection of settled dust in
different areas within the plant.
 Collection of hand samples of
rock with suspect mineralogy
throughout the quarry or pit.

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If asbestos minerals fibers are found…

14. Qualitative Geologic Survey
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15. Mineralogical Site Assessment
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• Literature and digital data research
• Locate source of asbestos by detailed field assessment and
develop a geologic model to show its distribution
• Commencement of a settled dust monitoring program
• Further targeted collection of rock samples and core (if available)
for analysis
• Recommendations

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Essential components of an actual
mineral assessment report….

17. 17Mineralogical Assessment – ABC QuarryRJ Lee Group
Overview of Pertinent Regional Geologic Features
Diabase Dikes
ABC Fault
Degrees of Metamorphism
(Isograds)
Folded Beds
On State Geologic Map Base 1:500,000

18. 18Mineralogical Assessment – ABC QuarryRJ Lee Group
Picture Of Diabase Dike On South Wall As Taken From This LocationPicture Of Diabase Dike On North Wall As Taken From This Location
Samples of Diabase Dike taken from this location
Site 1
Site 2
Pictures and Sample Collection

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• Settled dust collection program initiation
Settled Dust
 Regular collection of settled dust
for analysis in areas throughout
the plant. This will usually
include sampling points at the
primary and secondary crushers
as a starting point.
Mineralogical Assessment – ABC Quarry

20. 20Mineralogical Assessment – ABC QuarryRJ Lee Group
DRILL CORE LOG: CH 4-2010 Camak, Georgia 1/20/10
Location: N 33 28’ 44.6” W 82 38’ 41.3”
Interval (in feet) Description______________________
0.0 – 10.0 Overburden; no recovery
10.0 - 22.0 Weathered porphyroblastic biotite gneiss; 50% recovery.
22.0 – 35.1 Porphyroblastic biotite gneiss; very weak foliation with shallow
dip; porphyroblasts to 1 cm with local elongation to 3.0 cm;
most are white but a few contain pink cores and the largest
appear flattened and irregular microcline patches with irregular
white feldspar rims. There are no coherent biotite zones and
foliation is imparted only by preferential flattening of
porphyroblasts. Weathered 26.5 - 27.5, 30.8 – 32.3
35.1 - 36.0 Microcline pegmatite.
36.0 - 146.8 Fresh porphyroblastic biotite gneiss as above. Microcline
becoming less obvious at about 100 feet but where present, is in
larger irregular masses. “Mafic” band 1 cm thick at 110.8; 2 cm
quartz vein dipping 25 degrees at 129.6.
146.8 – 148.1 Mafic unit; fine-grained and uniform; hard; unfoliated. Contact
with gneiss does not appear intrusive; contacts are near
horizontal. Core at upper contact retained after box
photographed.
148.1 – 152.0 Porphyroblastic biotite gneiss as before.
152.0 - 155.2 Microcline pegmatite.
155.2 – 159.5 Porphyroblastic biotite gneiss as before.
159.5 - 160.3 Microcline pegmatite.
160.3 – 202.0 Porphyroblastic biotite gneiss as before.
202.0 T.D.
DRILL CORE LOG: CH 4-2010 Camak, Georgia 1/20/10
Location: N 33 28’ 44.6” W 82 38’ 41.3”
Interval (in feet) Description______________________
0.0 – 10.0 Overburden; no recovery
10.0 - 22.0 Weathered porphyroblastic biotite gneiss; 50% recovery.
22.0 – 35.1 Porphyroblastic biotite gneiss; very weak foliation with shallow
dip; porphyroblasts to 1 cm with local elongation to 3.0 cm;
most are white but a few contain pink cores and the largest
appear flattened and irregular microcline patches with irregular
white feldspar rims. There are no coherent biotite zones and
foliation is imparted only by preferential flattening of
porphyroblasts. Weathered 26.5 - 27.5, 30.8 – 32.3
35.1 - 36.0 Microcline pegmatite.
36.0 - 146.8 Fresh porphyroblastic biotite gneiss as above. Microcline
becoming less obvious at about 100 feet but where present, is in
larger irregular masses. “Mafic” band 1 cm thick at 110.8; 2 cm
quartz vein dipping 25 degrees at 129.6.
146.8 – 148.1 Mafic unit; fine-grained and uniform; hard; unfoliated. Contact
with gneiss does not appear intrusive; contacts are near
horizontal. Core at upper contact retained after box
photographed.
148.1 – 152.0 Porphyroblastic biotite gneiss as before.
152.0 - 155.2 Microcline pegmatite.
155.2 – 159.5 Porphyroblastic biotite gneiss as before.
159.5 - 160.3 Microcline pegmatite.
160.3 – 202.0 Porphyroblastic biotite gneiss as before.
202.0 T.D.
Although logged as ‘mafic’ at ~110’
depth, no such zone is seen.
Analysis of Current Data

21. 21Mineralogical Assessment – ABC QuarryRJ Lee Group
Known and estimated
Diabase Dike Locations
in current pit and north,
north-east of current pit.
There is a high
probability that
additional diabase dikes
occur within the mining
boundaries of the
ultimate pit.
Vertical drill holes are
unlikely to contact any
dike because of the near
vertical dip.
Some additional angled
drilling would be
recommended to test for
the presence of diabase
within the next 5 year
mine plan footprint.
Possible extension of
previously mapped
diabase dike
Known Diabase Dike
Interpretation of Data