Strohmeier, B.R., Bunker, K.L., Harris, K.E., Hoch, R., and Lee, R.J., Complementary TEM and FESEM Characterization of Amphibole Particles in Mixed Mineral Dust from Libby, Montana, U.S.A. Microscope Vol. 55:14, 2007, p. 173-188.
Abstract
This study involved the development and application of an analysis protocol using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) for the particle-by-particle characterization (i.e., chemistry, crystallography, and morphology) of mixed mineral dust. This protocol was developed to aid in the differentiation between asbestos and non-asbestos amphibole particles that occur as accessory minerals around the former vermiculite mine located near Libby, Montana. Using microscopical methods to distinguish between asbestos and non-asbestos minerals is critical in regulatory settings. A standard TEM asbestos protocol was supplemented with FESEM by relocating and imaging each potential asbestos particle identified by TEM. Features key to distinguishing between asbestos and non-asbestos amphibole particles, such as overall particle shape and surface roughness, are readily apparent in the FESEM images, but cannot be observed in a standard TEM image alone. FESEM imaging also demonstrates that amphibole cleavage fragments and single crystals have dimensions and morphological features very different than true asbestos. The FESEM results have helped the geological and microscopy communities better understand the morphology of the minerals found in and around Libby and show that FESEM is a valuable complementary tool to TEM for characterizing the morphology and surface characteristics of particles suspected to be asbestos.
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