Micro-Raman Spectroscopy, a Powerful Technique Allowing Sure Identification and Complete Characterization of Asbestiform Minerals

Featured Application Featured Application: Micro-Raman spectroscopy has been proved to be a quick technique for the study of minerals showing asbestiform morphology, in particular for identification of those ascribing to the phases defined by Law asbestos. Moreover, information about the crystal surface-free or occupied by crystalline or amorphous particles-can be at the same time obtained, being this last feature important for the interaction of the fibers with the biological medium. Abstract Micro-Raman spectroscopy has been applied to fibrous minerals regulated as asbestos-anthophyllite, actinolite, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, and chrysotile-responsible of severe diseases affecting mainly, but not only, the respiratory system. The technique proved to be powerful in the identification of the mineral phase and in the recognition of particles of carbonaceous materials (CMs) lying on the asbestos fibers surface. Also, erionite, a zeolite mineral, from different outcrops has been analyzed. To erionite has been ascribed the peak of mesothelioma noticed in Cappadocia (Turkey) during the 1970s. On the fibers, micro-Raman spectroscopy allowed to recognize many grains, micrometric in size, of iron oxy-hydroxides or potassium iron sulphate, in erionite from Oregon, or particles of CMs, in erionite from North Dakota, lying on the crystal surface. Raman spectroscopy appears therefore to be the technique allowing, without preparation of the sample, a complete characterization of the minerals and of the associated phases.