Mineralogical Asbestos Assessment in the Southern Apennines (Italy): A Review

Rosa Sinisi,Michele Paternoster,Maria Dichicco,Giovanna Rizzo

doi:10.3390/fib7030024

Rosa Sinisi, Michele Paternoster + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/fib7030024

Copy DOI

Abstract

This paper deals with petrography and mineralogy of serpentinitic rocks occurring in the Southern Apennines (Italy) with the aim to review the already available literature data and furnish new details on asbestos minerals present in the studied area. Two sites of Southern Italy were taken into account: the Pollino Massif, at the Calabrian-Lucanian border, and the surroundings of the Gimigliano and Mt. Reventino areas where serpentinites of Frido Unit are mainly exposed. Textural and mineralogical features of the studied rocks point to a similar composition for both sites including asbestos minerals such as chrysotile and tremolite-actinolite series mineral phases. Only in the Pollino Massif serpentinites edenite crystals have been detected as well; they are documented here for the first time. This amphibole forms as fibrous and/or prismatic crystals in aggregates associated with serpentine, pyroxene, and calcite. Metamorphism and/or metasomatic alteration of serpentinites are the most probable processes promoting the edenite formation in the Southern Apennine ophiolitic rocks.

Highlights

In the last decade, many researchers have focused on serpentinites cropping out in the ophiolitic sequences and have aimed to assess and monitor their potential as asbestos-bearing lithotypes, since asbestos occurrence in mafic and ultramafic rocks that undergo ocean floor metamorphism is relatively common [1,2,3,4]
We present data related to petrography and mineralogy of serpentinites in representative sites at the Pollino Massif (Calabrian-Lucanian boundary) and Gimigliano-Mt
We report and discuss data available in literature referring to the petrographical and mineralogical studies performed on serpentinites from selected sites of southern Apennines

Summary

Introduction

Many researchers have focused on serpentinites cropping out in the ophiolitic sequences and have aimed to assess and monitor their potential as asbestos-bearing lithotypes, since asbestos occurrence in mafic and ultramafic rocks that undergo ocean floor metamorphism is relatively common [1,2,3,4]. In Italy, the occurrence of these rocks is documented both in the Alps and Apennines. These outcrops extend from the Ligurian-Piedmont through the Tuscan-Emilian. The definition of asbestos used by regulatory agencies [6] for identification includes the following six mineral species: chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite, amosite, and anthophyllite [7] Among these minerals, only chrysotile is a sheet silicate; the other minerals are included within the amphibole supergroup. Silicate minerals belonging to the serpentine and amphibole groups are flexible, heat-resistant, and chemically inert. These minerals usually occur with an elongated and/or bladed prismatic habit, they may be acicular or fibrous as well. In the European countries, fibers having a length ≥5 μm, a width 3 are defined as “asbestos” by Directive 2003/18/CE

Methods

Results

Conclusion