L. Daniel Maxim and Ron Niebo
Everest Consulting Associates, Cranbury, New Jersey, USA
Salvatore LaRosa
NYCO Minerals Inc., Willsboro, New York, USA
Brad Johnston
Elk Valley Coal Corp., Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Kimberly Allison
RJ Lee Group, Inc., Monroeville, Pennsylvania, USA
E. E. McConnell
ToxPath, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
In July 2002, NYCO Minerals, Inc., discovered a heretofore unknown contaminant in its wollastonite ore. The contaminant was first believed to be tremolite asbestos. Immediate efforts
were made to eliminate this material. Additional studies were initiated to fully characterize
the contaminant and its distribution in the ore body. Subsequent study by NYCO and their
consultants led to the identification of the contaminant as a transition material (TM) intermediate
between tremolite and talc. In vitro dissolution rate measurements indicated that the
TM dissolved much more rapidly than tremolite asbestos. This article provides background
information on wollastonite mineralogy and NYCO's product stewardship program (PSP). At
present, NYCO Minerals uses selective mining to control the trace levels of TM in the ore and
finished product verified by periodic monitoring of workplace air and finished product.
Subscribe to our contact list and we'll send you important service announcments and product updates via email.
