202209030110
`
`FILED: MONROE COUNTY CLERK 09/03/2022 02:20 PMFILED: SUFFOLK COUNTY CLERK 12/30/2024 03:00 PM
`
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 651NYSCEF DOC. NO. 216
`
`Index #: E2020003840
`
`INDEX NO. E2020003840INDEX NO. 612331/2023
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`
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/03/2022RECEIVED NYSCEF: 12/30/2024
`
`Original article
`
`Using the geologic
`setting
`as an indicator
`of
`deposits
`amphibole asbestos
`content
`
`of
`
`talc
`
`Bradley S. Van Gosen · Heather A. Lowers · Stephen J. Sutley
`
`· Carol A. Gent
`
`This study examined commercial
`Abstract
`talc
`in the U.S. and their amphibole-asbestos
`deposits
`content. The study found that
`the talc-forming
`the amphibole and
`environment
`influenced
`directly
`amphibole-asbestos
`content of
`the talc deposit.
`in the U.S. have mined
`Large talc
`districts
`replaced dolostone.
`hydrothermal
`that
`tales
`Hydrothermal
`created by siliceous
`fluids
`talcs,
`heated by magmasat depth,
`lack
`consistently
`amphiboles
`In contrast,
`as accessory minerals.
`formed by contact or
`mineable talc
`deposits
`that
`regional metamorphism consistently
`contain
`as asbestiform varieties.
`amphiboles,
`locally
`Examples of contact metamorphic
`deposits
`Death Valley, California;
`these talc-tremolite
`contain accessory amphibole-asbestos. Talc
`deposits
`bodies formed by regional metamorphism always
`of
`contain amphiboles, which display
`a variety
`compositions
`and habits,
`asbestiform.
`including
`Someindustrial mineral deposits
`are under scrutiny
`sources of accessory asbestos minerals.
`as potential
`between the talc-
`relations
`Recognizing consistent
`and amphibole-asbestos
`forming environment
`content maybe used in prioritizing
`remediation or
`of abandoned and active talc mines.
`monitoring
`Keywords Talc · Amphibole-asbestos
`· Hydrothermal
`· Metamorphic
`setting
`
`· Geologic
`· USA
`
`occur in
`
`Introduction
`
`The presence of amphibole asbestos
`as minor accessory
`minerals in some talc
`and its potential
`health
`deposits,
`
`I Received: 26 September 2003 / Accepted: 24 November 2003
`ª
`
`r
`
`2004
`
`B. 5. Van Gosen (C 3) H. A. Lowers · 5. 1 Sutley C. A. Gent
`U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, M.S. 905,
`Box 25046, Denver, CO 80225, USA
`Email: bvangose@usgs.gov
`Tel.: +1-303-2361566
`Fax: +1-303-2361425
`
`impacts on the humanrespiratory
`system, have been the
`research and contentious debate for
`focus of considerable
`(Goodwin 1974; Occupational and Safety
`30 years
`at
`least
`and Health Administration
`issues
`1992). Talc-asbestos
`have drawn renewed attention,
`such as news reports
`in
`talc used to add strength
`2000 contending that
`the fibrous
`crayons contained
`brands of children's
`to the best-selling
`2001). To investi-
`(Beard and others
`amphibole asbestos
`of amphibole minerals in
`and character
`gate the extent
`the U.S. Geological
`Survey
`a group at
`deposits,
`talc
`between amphi-
`(USGS) is examining the relationships
`in U.S. deposits. This study,
`boles and talc
`field
`involving
`analyses, and an
`and sampling,
`examinations
`laboratory
`review, has revealed
`that a consistent
`extensive
`literature
`and small
`occurs within
`large (commercial)
`relationship
`U.S talc deposits-that
`the primary
`talc-forming
`is,
`amphibole
`environment
`the ultimate
`controlled
`directly
`content of
`deposit.
`the talc
`are the products of metasomatism caused by
`Talc deposits
`contact metamorphism,
`or
`regional metamorphism,
`or brines heated
`hydrothermal
`(meteoric
`processes
`fluids
`Twoof
`or buried intrusions).
`these talc-forming
`by distant
`mechanisms-contact metamorphism and hydrothermal
`processes-are
`represented
`well
`by large,
`historically
`mined deposits
`region of southern
`in the Death Valley
`studies on these
`Results of field and laboratory
`California.
`the con-
`described herein,
`Death Valley
`deposits,
`reflect
`talc deposits with
`of amphibole-rich
`associations
`sistent
`contact metamorphism versus amphibole-poor
`talc with
`hydrothermal
`processes.
`A number of U.S.
`(under
`of commercial
`talc deposits
`size
`were formed by
`past or present economic conditions)
`metasomatic processes
`driven by regional metamorphism;
`intergrown
`contain talc
`these large bodies consistently
`and (or) anthophyllite.
`with amphiboles, such as tremolite
`(major versus
`Debate over the asbestos mineral content
`trace amounts) within these talc-amphibole
`is the
`deposits
`of the predominant
`of differing
`habit
`interpretations
`result
`of the amphibole
`versus non-asbestiform)
`(asbestiform
`The complicating
`face analysts
`factors
`that
`particles.
`talc ore material
`are discussed.
`type of
`examining this
`
`ASheSt0S
`
`term with a long his-
`Asbestos is a commercial-industrial
`"Asbestos"
`tory, and is not a mineralogical
`definition.
`in the
`
`920
`
`Environmental Geology (2004) 45:920-939
`
`DOI 10.1007/s00254-003-0955-2
`
`

`

`202209030110
`
`FILED: MONROE COUNTY CLERK 09/03/2022 02:20 PMFILED: SUFFOLK COUNTY CLERK 12/30/2024 03:00 PM
`
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 651NYSCEF DOC. NO. 216
`
`Index #: E2020003840
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`INDEX NO. E2020003840INDEX NO. 612331/2023
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`
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/03/2022RECEIVED NYSCEF: 12/30/2024
`
`Original artide
`
`its
`
`intergrown with the vermiculite
`half of the 20th century becamewidely used in regu- mineral
`deposits
`fibers
`latter
`near the town from 1923 to 1990 (U.S.
`mined and milled
`language to refer
`thin parti-
`to well developed,
`long,
`latory
`and Public Works
`Senate Committee on Environment
`and fiber bundles of specific mineral
`or fibrils)
`(fibers
`cles
`2000; Dearwent and others 2000). The California
`Division
`compositions, which have fulfilled
`industrial
`particular
`of Mines and Geology has mapped outcrops of ultramafic
`is most commonly
`In the U.S., asbestos
`applications.
`country rocks with the
`rocks in California
`to indicate
`defined as the asbestiform variety
`of 6 naturally
`occurring
`and actinolite-series
`asbestos
`to host chrysotile
`potential
`hydrated silicate
`the
`these include
`minerals;
`chrysotile,
`2000). Other examples of occupational
`asbestiform memberof the serpentine
`and Hill
`group, and five
`(Churchill
`exposures to asbestos are described in
`and environmental
`the asbestiform varieties
`minerals of the amphibole group:
`Nolan and others
`(2001).
`called crocidolite),
`riebeckite
`(commercially
`of
`(2)
`(1)
`The history
`and study of naturally
`occurring asbestos,
`cummingtonite-grunerite
`called amosite),
`(commercially
`complex
`and the multiple,
`health
`associated
`impacts,
`(anthophyllite
`(3) anthophyllite
`(4) actinolite
`asbestos),
`are discussed in
`revolve around asbestos
`and (5)
`issues that
`tremolite
`(tremolite
`(actinolite
`asbestos)
`asbestos),
`1992). The Campbell and others
`(1977), Ross (1981), Zoltai
`(1981),
`(Occupational Safety and Health Administration
`(1988), Mossman and
`Levadie (1984), Skinner and others
`that make it useful and desirable
`of asbestos
`for
`qualities
`(1990), Occupational Safety and Health Adminis-
`and
`commercial use are its high tensile
`others
`strength,
`flexibility,
`(1992), Guthrie and Mossman(1993), Nolan and
`and electricity.
`tration
`to heat, chemicals,
`resistance
`its
`(2001, 2002). Current
`that are dura-
`(2001), and Virta
`federal
`The inherent properties
`of asbestos-fibers
`others
`are provided in the Code of Federal Regula-
`long, and thin-appear
`regulations
`of
`to the toxicity
`to contribute
`ble,
`on occupational expo-
`the human
`these mineral particles when lodged inside
`regulations
`(CFR),
`tions
`including
`and ship-related
`sures to asbestos excepting construction
`1981; Wylie and
`system (Stanton and others
`respiratory
`1910.1001); CFRregulations
`work (CFR 29, part
`are
`1993). Occupational exposures to asbestos have
`others
`"pulmo-
`updated as needed on July 1.
`been linked to asbestosis
`of
`the lungs,
`(scarring
`lung cancer, and malignant
`nary interstitial
`fibrosis"),
`(tumor development within
`mesothelioma
`the pleural
`in the perito-
`membrane lining
`the chest cavity and (or)
`neumlining
`the abdominal and pelvic walls and their
`vis-
`1988; Mossman and others
`(Skinner and others
`1990;
`cera)
`Guthrie and Mossman1993; Nolan and others 2001). His-
`has accounted for more than 90%of the
`chrysotile
`torically,
`over 99%of
`composition of
`Talc is a hydrous silicate with an idealized
`and presently
`the
`asbestos production,
`world's
`2001, 2002). Mg3Si4Ow(OH)3but can contain major amounts of Fe,
`world production
`(Ross and Virta
`2001; Virta
`has been minor Al and F, and trace Mn, Ti, Cr, Ni, Ca, Na, and K
`Whereasmining, processing,
`and use of chrysotile
`(Evans and Guggenheim 1988; Greenwood 1998). Signifi-
`that amphi-
`muchmore common, several
`studies
`suggest
`in the Appalachians,
`occur in the U.S.
`bole asbestos, even when occurring as a minor accessory in
`talc deposits
`cant
`in the West in Montana,
`from Vermont to Alabama,
`deposits, maybe the primary cause of meso-
`chrysotile
`Idaho, and NewMexico
`Nevada, Washington,
`occupations (Ross 1981, 1984, California,
`thelioma in asbestos-related
`also occur
`2001; Mossmanand others
`1994). Large deposits
`1990; Browneand Wagner 2001;
`and others
`(Piniazkiewicz
`in Texas, and small soapstone mines once operated in
`Gibbs 2001; Langer 2001; Pooley 2001a, 2001b). As noted by
`are otherwise lacking
`Mossmanand others
`Arkansas, but economic deposits
`"The persistence
`of
`(1990, p. 296):
`amphiboles in humanlungs maybe attributed
`between the Appalachians and the Rocky Mountains.
`to their
`rock
`two general
`have replaced
`lack of
`Commercial
`talc deposits
`the peripheral
`to penetrate
`lung,
`increased
`ability
`types:(1) Dolostone (dolomite or dolomitic marble), which
`or durability". Wagner and others
`(1960)
`clearance,
`replaced by reactions with large volumes of
`were selectively
`described the high rates of malignant mesothelioma in
`in solution, mobilized by
`heated waters carrying
`of crocidolite
`workers and nearby residents
`(asbestiform
`silica
`magmatic or metamorphic mechanisms. The dolostone-
`riebeckite) mines in the Cape Province of South Africa.
`range from cm-thick pods to
`that study in 1960, mesothelioma
`hosted replacement deposits
`Following publication
`of
`the Treasure Chest mine near
`the 29-m-thick
`talc body at
`becameincreasingly
`recognized as an occupational
`risk in
`Dillon, Montana (Berg 1979). Today and in the past,
`the
`and handling of rocks that contain
`the mining, milling,
`in the U.S. exploited
`by-products.
`amphibole asbestos and their
`talc
`largest
`talc producing districts
`extent, mag-
`there has been a renewed focus upon the
`and to a lesser
`deposits
`dolostone,
`In recent
`replacing
`years,
`(2) The second commontalc hosts are ultramafic
`of amphibole asbestos;
`in
`hazards related
`to inhalation
`nesite.
`altered by metaso-
`and peridotites,
`exposures due to the mining and processing of
`rocks, mainly dunites
`particular,
`regional metamorphism. Mag-
`matism through contact
`some amphibole-bearing
`industrial mineral deposits,
`or
`as
`in these rocks reacted with SiOrsaturated
`nesium silicates
`exposures to amphibole-rich
`well as environmental
`during metamorphism to form nearly
`aqueous pore fluids
`that expose
`bedrock, such as road cuts and excavations
`rock (Browne and Wagner 2001). For
`to zoned
`bodies of talc adjacent
`monomineralogic
`asbestos-bearing
`sequences of
`example, unusually high incidences
`of asbestos-related
`amphibole-chlorite-,
`talc-carbonate-,
`calcic
`zones in addition
`and chlorite-dominant
`disease in the small
`and respiratory
`town of
`to complexly
`mortality
`by Sanford 1982). These deposits
`mixed zones (described
`to amphibole
`Libby, Montana, have been attributed
`
`Exploitable
`talc
`and amphiboles
`
`deposits
`
`Environmental Geology (2004) 45:920-939
`
`921
`
`

`

`202209030110
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`FILED: MONROE COUNTY CLERK 09/03/2022 02:20 PMFILED: SUFFOLK COUNTY CLERK 12/30/2024 03:00 PM
`
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 651NYSCEF DOC. NO. 216
`
`Index #: E2020003840
`
`INDEX NO. E2020003840INDEX NO. 612331/2023
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`
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/03/2022RECEIVED NYSCEF: 12/30/2024
`
`Original
`
`artide
`
`......
`
`sample
`form rinds on the ultramatic
`selected talcose rock at each particular
`bodies or nearly
`replace them;
`randomly
`talc bodies that can spot. The samples are intended to represent
`the talcose
`or lenticular
`tabular
`they are typically
`and extend more than 300 min
`reach 100 min thickness
`material mined at each site,
`collected mainly from mines
`those samples
`type are mined in Vermont,
`and abandoned, excepting
`Large deposits
`of this
`that are inactive
`length.
`the Yellowstone mine,
`have been mined in other eastern
`from an active open pit of
`and smaller deposits
`collected
`and Texas. The ultramafic-hosted
`southwest Montana.
`states, California,
`sampling bag was
`the inside of the plastic
`sources of pure talc
`Dust coating
`important
`have been equally
`deposits
`examined using a JEOL5800-LV scanning electron
`the dark talcose bodies owing
`and darker
`(soapstone),
`talc
`microscope (SEM), equipped with an Oxford ISIS energy-
`and chlorite
`to amphibole,
`coloration
`their
`serpentine,
`window detector.
`and others
`system (EDS) with ultra-thin
`impurities
`dispersive
`(Piniazkiewicz
`1994).
`The EDSprovided semi-quantitative
`chemical data that
`The host
`and process of formation
`rock composition
`was reduced using the Oxford ISIS standardless
`software
`talc, which in turn
`of
`determines
`the
`the qualities
`affects
`with the ZAFcorrection
`Analyses were
`deposit. The grain
`procedure selected.
`of a particular
`industrial
`applications
`performed on single,
`not on fibers
`size and shape, color, and purity
`that
`of talc
`isolated
`its uses
`structures,
`influence
`The operating condi-
`lay across other mineral particles.
`(Piniazkiewicz
`and others
`the talc-
`In addition,
`1994).
`the instrument were 15 kV, 0.5-3 nA (cup), and
`forming mechanism-hydrothermal
`tions of
`contact
`processes,
`approximately 30%dead time. These conditions
`would
`metamorphism, or
`regional metamorphism-directly
`volume of ~2 µm.
`excite an analysis
`amphibole content of the talc ore
`influenced the ultimate
`used do not account
`The matrix corrections
`body, described below through examples. Within a single
`for particle
`(2000) demon-
`geometry. However, Small and Armstrong
`such as some talc
`ore bodies, amphibole
`mineral
`deposit,
`that at 10-15 kV (utilized
`study) geometry-
`crystals may range in habit
`from blocky to prismatic
`by this
`strated
`to
`can be relatively
`in the analyses of particles
`induced errors
`amphibole asbestos,
`In describing
`to asbestiform.
`acicular
`small. One of the amphibole-rich
`study samples was
`"Amphibole-asbestos
`Wylie (2000,
`p. 56) notes that:
`fibrils
`µm" and "individual
`analyzed by EDSand by electron
`with
`probe microanalysis
`range in width from about 1 to 0.01
`spectroscopy (WDS) to evaluate
`wavelength dispersive
`the
`fibrils mayattain
`lengths of
`and bundles of
`fibrils
`the EDS measurements. Table 1 shows the
`to thousands of
`hundreds
`accuracy of
`their widths".
`times
`by EDSand WDS.The
`comparison of analytical
`results
`amphibole nomenclature used in this study follows
`the
`of Leake and others
`recommendations
`(1997).
`Study methods
`(XRD) analyses were pul-
`Samples for
`diffraction
`x-ray
`split. The minerals identified
`and mechanically
`by
`verized
`at several mine XRDin the samples were categorized
`as major, minor, and
`Samples of talc ore material were collected
`"Major"
`the analyzed split.
`trace mineral constituents
`sites, which are described below. Each sample was
`of
`minerals are estimated to comprise >25 wt% of
`least 30 pieces of
`as a composite, containing at
`collected
`
`the
`
`Table 1
`in one tremolite-
`Comparison of
`particles
`tremolite
`the analyses of
`as measured by two
`rich specimen from the Death Valley
`region,
`(EDS) on polished
`x-ray analysis
`(1) energy dispersive
`techniques:
`L x W method
`(µm)
`203×106 WDS
`EDS
`362×226 WDS
`EDS
`620×228 WDS
`EDS
`241×28.8 WDS
`EDS
`140×14.3 WDS
`EDS
`225×170 EDS
`445×166 EDS
`EDS
`104×27.1
`EDS
`20.2×3.4
`EDS
`18.5×0.9
`EDS
`5.8×0.8
`EDS
`6.7×1.1
`EDS
`3.9×l.5
`EDS
`13.4x1.0
`
`Particle
`
`Analysis
`
`K
`
`Na
`
`grains, and (2) electron probe microanalysis
`and single unpolished
`(WDS) on polished
`with wavelength dispersive
`grains.
`spectroscopy
`which were calculated
`Data are expressed
`by
`in cation
`proportions,
`using 23 oxygen atoms
`stoichiometry
`Mn
`Mg
`
`Ti
`
`Al
`
`Si
`
`Fe
`
`0.01
`bdl
`0.01
`bdl
`0.02
`bdl
`0.02
`bdi
`0.02
`bdi
`bdl
`bd!
`bdi
`bdl
`0.1
`0.1
`bdi
`bdl
`0.1
`
`0.04
`0.1
`0.05
`bdl
`0.06
`0.1
`0.06
`bdl
`0.06
`0.1
`0.1
`0.1
`0.1
`0.1
`0.1
`0.2
`0.1
`bdi
`0.1
`
`4.93
`4.9
`4.94
`5.0
`4.90
`5.0
`4.94
`4.9
`4.93
`5.0
`4.9
`4.8
`5.0
`5.1
`5.2
`5.1
`5.3
`5.0
`5.1
`
`bdl
`bdl
`bdl
`bdl
`bd1
`bdl
`bdl
`bdl
`bdl
`bdl
`bdl
`bdl
`bdt
`bdl
`bdi
`bdl
`bd1
`bd1
`bdl
`
`0.03
`bdl
`0.03
`bdl
`0.03
`bdl
`0.03
`bdl
`0.04
`bdi
`bdl
`bdi
`bdl
`0.1
`bdl
`0.1
`bdl
`0.1
`0.2
`
`7.99
`8.1
`7.97
`8.1
`8.00
`8.1
`7.99
`8.1
`8.00
`8.1
`8.1
`8.1
`8.1
`8.0
`7.9
`7.9
`7.8
`8.0
`7.9
`
`Ca
`
`1.88
`1.7
`1.88
`1.7
`1.87
`1.7
`1.88
`1.8
`1.85
`1.8
`1.8
`1.8
`1.7
`1.7
`1.8
`1.7
`1.9
`1.8
`1.8
`
`Mount
`type
`
`Polished
`
`Polished
`
`Polished
`
`Polished
`
`Polished
`
`Loose
`Loose
`Loose
`Loose
`Loose
`Loose
`Loose
`Loose
`Loose
`
`0.01
`bdi
`0.01
`bdl
`0.01
`bdl
`0.01
`bdi
`0.01
`bdl
`bd1
`bd!
`bdl
`bdl
`bdl
`bdl
`bd!
`bdl
`bdl
`
`.
`
`0.06
`bdl
`0.06
`bdl
`0.06
`bdl
`0.05
`bd1
`0.05
`bdl
`bdl
`bdl
`bdl
`bdl
`bdl
`bdl
`bdi
`bdl
`bdl
`
`bdl, below the detection
`
`limit
`
`of
`
`the analytical
`
`technique
`
`922
`
`Environmental Geology (2004) 45:920-939
`
`

`

`202209030110
`
`FILED: MONROE COUNTY CLERK 09/03/2022 02:20 PMFILED: SUFFOLK COUNTY CLERK 12/30/2024 03:00 PM
`
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 651NYSCEF DOC. NO. 216
`
`Index #: E2020003840
`
`INDEX NO. E2020003840INDEX NO. 612331/2023
`
`
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/03/2022RECEIVED NYSCEF: 12/30/2024
`
`Original article
`
`"minor" minerals form 5-25 wt% of the sample,
`Talc Oty district,
`sample,
`California
`and "trace" minerals form <5 wt% of
`The historical
`the sample. These
`of
`the Talc City mining district
`significance
`from World War I
`estimates were based on the experience of the XRDoper-
`through the 1940s is well
`in California
`documented by Page (1951). The district
`and its data output. The
`ator with his instrumentation
`is in the Talc City
`about 47 kmsoutheast
`Page
`of Lone Pine, California.
`examined by this study provide snapshots
`pulverized splits
`Hills
`during its peak of pro-
`and sampled the district
`and variability
`visited
`in the talcose ores.
`the mineralogy
`of
`duction in the mid 1940s;
`the reader is referred
`of the talc or amphibole
`to his
`However, quantitative
`estimates
`from the XRDresults
`geol-
`(Page 1951)
`content should not be interpreted
`of
`the district's
`for descriptions
`report
`and mines. Gay and Wright
`shown in this
`talc deposits,
`(1954)
`report.
`ogy,
`The XRDtechnique can identify
`completed a geologic map of
`the amphibole minerals
`the Talc City area.
`The talc deposits
`within a sample as members of
`the tremolite-actinolite-
`lenses
`are thick
`of
`the Talc City
`district
`To a
`and irregular masses hosted mainly by dolomite.
`is not able to determine the
`but
`ferroactinolite
`series,
`to posi- muchlesser
`talc bodies occur in "silica
`amphibole species.
`is also not possible
`extent
`rock",
`specific
`It
`named by Page (1951)
`massive rock
`for an unstratified,
`between tremolite
`and the sodic-calcic
`distinguish
`tively
`composed mostly of interlocking
`by XRD.
`resembles
`amphiboles winchite and richterite
`quartz;
`it
`Limestone is also nearby. Bedded
`in outcrop.
`quartzite
`dolomite is altered to massive dolomite adjacent
`to the talc
`deposits; both are often closely associated with silica
`rock.
`The silica
`rock is discontinuous
`the mine sites,
`Amphibole-poor
`deposits
`forming
`at
`talc
`lenses surrounded by massive dolomite.
`Sihca
`isolated
`formed by hydrothermal
`processeS rock appears to be partially
`at someof the
`replaced by talc
`rock
`deposits. Petrographic examination of the silica
`Geologic environments that host
`reveals microscopic patches of talc
`areas
`in interstitial
`hydrothermal
`(Page 1951).
`between quartz grains
`talc deposits
`from about 0.8 to 3.2 kmdistance
`The term "hydrothermal"
`is commonly used in a general
`bodies crop out
`Granitic
`from the mines. The granitic
`have been
`and products of hot
`rocks locally
`sense to describe
`the actions
`fluids,
`implying an association with igneous
`suggesting they were affected by
`often, but not always,
`hydrothermally
`altered,
`hydrothermal
`and were not
`hydrothermal
`the
`In this
`processes.
`the talc-forming
`refers
`to
`discussion,
`talc
`event(s)
`heated by a
`source of fluids. Dikes ranging in composition from basalt
`to be the products of
`thought
`deposits
`fluids
`distant magmasource,
`at depth. For example,
`crop out near the Talc City and Prisco
`to diorite
`in
`to felsite
`usually
`no evidence of contact
`the Talc City district,
`or mines (Page 1951). These dikes are also hydrothermally
`California,
`regional metamorphism is apparent
`in the host or country
`(Page
`to predate the talc alteration
`altered and interpreted
`1951). A magmatic source of hydrothermal
`is not
`that drove the talc-forming
`the source of
`the heat
`fluids
`rocks;
`it maybe best viewed
`to buried
`process is not obvious,
`and has been attributed
`obvious within the district.
`If buried,
`the south-
`Heat sources for
`igneous intrusions.
`by geophysical methods.
`or distant
`west Montana talc event(s)
`formation in the
`to be sills
`Page (1951) proposed a model
`that
`are speculated
`for
`talc
`basin, heating and
`involved the following
`intruded an overlying
`events:
`Proterozoic
`Talc City area that
`towards underlying Archean
`basin brines
`circulating
`1. The area was originally
`covered by mostly limestone,
`talc"
`to talc ore
`marbles. Thus, "hydrothermal
`refers
`shale, and sandstone;
`with lesser mterbeds of dolomite,
`rich mMgrose through and
`associated with regional
`bodies that are not directly
`2. Hydrothermal
`fluids
`metamorphism and are not
`against an
`found directly
`them
`limestones and altered
`fractured
`the overlying
`igneous intrusion.
`into massive dolomite, perhaps also converting
`The large,
`of
`hydrothermal
`amphibole-poor,
`talc deposits
`rock ';
`sandstones to the "silica
`and west Texas,
`southwest Montana, Talc City, California,
`3. A second event of
`accompanied another
`of hydrothermal waters enriched mSi and Mg,
`fracturing
`as examples, may represent
`the products of saline,
`sili-
`or localized mag-
`influx
`ceous fluids mobilized by basin-scale
`which replaced massive dolomite with large talc
`is supported by the
`This genetic association
`matic activity.
`lenses. Page
`rock with talc
`and replaced silica
`study by Gammonsand Matt
`deposits
`fluid-inclusion
`recent
`(2002)
`of
`(1951) suggested the talc
`formed by the addition
`excavated at
`the hydrothermal
`the
`of
`talc deposit
`currently
`of silica,
`and water to dolomite,
`and the addition
`silica
`Yellowstone mine, southwest Montana, which indicated
`water, and Mg to silica
`rock. This general
`reaction,
`the presence of highly
`for-
`during the talc
`saline fluids
`shown below,
`is commonly invoked to explam the
`flow, enhanced by
`mation. They proposed that
`"high heat
`replacement of dolomite by talc:
`of thick
`into the (Proterozoic)
`injection
`sedimentary
`sills
`connate brines out of
`the bottom of
`3 dolomite + 4SiO299) + 1H20 = 1 talc + 3 calcite + 3CO2
`the
`forced
`pile,
`Basin and into the underlying
`or adjacent
`(Proterozoic)
`Precambrian basement, where they caused retrograde
`metamorphism and formation of economic talc and
`Abundant fracturing
`deposits"
`dolomitic marble and quar-
`that
`chlorite
`suggest
`district
`(replacing
`(Gammonsand Matt
`flow and talc
`tzo-feldspathic
`gneiss,
`respectively)
`fluid
`are based on field
`2002, p. 44).
`
`and shearing of country rocks
`in the
`and aided
`systems controlled
`fracture
`formation. Page's interpretations
`However, by general
`relationships.
`
`Environmental Geology (2004) 45:920-939
`
`923
`
`

`

`202209030110
`
`FILED: MONROE COUNTY CLERK 09/03/2022 02:20 PMFILED: SUFFOLK COUNTY CLERK 12/30/2024 03:00 PM
`
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 651NYSCEF DOC. NO. 216
`
`Index #: E2020003840
`
`INDEX NO. E2020003840INDEX NO. 612331/2023
`
`
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/03/2022RECEIVED NYSCEF: 12/30/2024
`
`Original
`
`article
`
`southwest Montana talc bodies are lenticular
`and elongate,
`the talc deposits and associated
`rocks of the
`appearances,
`and in most places,
`to the lithologic
`do not display
`lenses are parallel
`Talc City district
`of regional
`typical
`features
`talc
`talc bodies cut across
`of the marble. However,
`such as prominent
`metamorphic
`or
`processes,
`foliation
`layering
`the Yellowstone mine (Cerino 2002).
`compression structures.
`at
`layering
`the southwest Montana talc deposits
`The origin
`is not
`or dumps at
`The study sampled talc ore from pits
`of
`sites
`five
`2 and 3). No evidence of
`recent work has reaffirmed
`completely understood, but
`in the Talc City district
`(Tables
`the talc bodies appear to have
`observations that
`amphibole minerals was found in ore samples from this
`earlier
`(Table 2) and SEM-EDSformed during the Precambrian because they are restricted
`based on x-ray diffraction
`district
`to Archean dolomitic marbles and do not replace overlying
`the samples. Platy
`is mixed with small
`analyses of
`talc
`This observation was supported by a
`amounts of calcite,
`Cambrian dolomites.
`dolomite, quartz,
`clinochlore,
`kaolinite,
`published age of 1.36 Ga by the "Ar/39Ar method for
`and K-feldspar
`(lis-
`(uncertain
`vermiculite
`identification)
`in decreasing abundance). A friable white muscovite intergrown with talc
`in the Ruby Range (Brady
`to right
`ted left
`2003). A recent
`study of the
`the Frisco mine
`and others
`with the talc ore body at
`inclusion
`interlayered
`fluid
`layer
`(Gammons and Matt 2002,
`Yellowstone mine deposits
`of mostly quartz with accessory plagioclase,
`consists
`p. 44) determined that
`Thus, none of
`talc, and kaolinite.
`responsible
`the
`"the fluids
`muscovite, dolomite,
`for
`talc
`of our sam-
`than
`(roughly 7x saltier
`formation were saline brines
`of Page (1951), nor
`the results
`descriptions
`the presence of modern seawater),
`and were enriched in CaCl2". They
`pling and mineralogical
`indicate
`analyses,
`of more
`formation
`depths during talc
`of the Talc City
`amphiboles
`burial
`calculated
`in the talc deposits
`district.
`than 3 km at
`temperatures of 190 to 250 °C.
`formation
`Their model for
`the Yellowstone mine
`formation
`at
`talc
`Yellowstone mine, southwest Montana
`that descended along growth
`saline fluids
`involves
`site
`The Yellowstone talc mine is on the northeast
`flank of the
`basin that mayhave
`in an overlying
`Proterozoic
`faults
`Gravelly Range near Ennis, Montana. This enormous talc
`existed above the Archean dolomitic marbles at about
`tons of known reserves)
`than 5.5 million
`sup-
`body (greater
`short
`they suggested the saline fluids were either
`1.36 Ga;
`is the largest known in southwestern Montana, a region that
`in the basin sediments or by
`plied by connate brines
`and known
`contains a total
`of 57 talc mines,
`seawater. Their model, as well as earlier models
`talc prospects,
`overlying
`talc occurrences (Berg 1979; Van Gosen and others
`in southwest Montana (Olson 1976;
`1998).
`formation
`for
`talc
`The Yellowstone mine is the largest
`in the
`invoke
`talc-producer
`1990; Brady and others 2003),
`Anderson and others
`the Regal and Treasure
`U.S., and two other
`large talc mines,
`to form these deposits,
`to rock ratios
`very large water
`to the west in the Ruby through the general
`operate farther
`State mines, currently
`reaction:
`three mines are open-pit operations.
`Range. All
`in the Ruby 3 dolomite + 4SiO2(aq) + 4H20 = 1 talc + 3Ca2++ 6HCO3
`the economically important
`talc deposits
`All of
`and Gravelly Range region of southwest Montana replaced
`In much smaller
`(1990) suggested that water to rock
`Anderson and others
`dolomitic marbles of Archean age.
`of more than 600 are required by this
`reaction
`to
`talc also replaced magnesite, quartz,
`amounts,
`tremolite,
`ratios
`and flush most of
`the
`in solution
`and calcite, which are accessory constituents
`of
`silica
`sufficient
`serpentine,
`carry
`the host marble (Berg 1979). Talc occurrences range from calcite
`out of the system.
`or the
`Regardless of the source of the hydrothermal
`thick up to huge masses,
`and pods centimeters
`fluids
`veinlets
`the Yellowstone
`the end result
`the Yellowstone mine, which
`mechanism,
`such as the thick
`talc body at
`circulation
`at
`least 30 mthick
`the mine site
`is large bodies of mainly massive talc with light
`found). Most of
`(bottom not yet
`is at
`
`Table 2
`abundances in samples
`Mineral
`of hydrothermal
`talc ore col.
`lected from abandoned talc
`mines in the Talc City district
`The
`near Lone Pine, California.
`and longitude
`values
`latitude
`were measured by GPSusing the
`North American Datum of 1927,
`CONUS.In regard to the x-ray
`diffraction
`results
`(see text),
`"major" minerals
`are estimated
`to comprise >25 wt% of
`the
`"minor"
`sample analyzed;
`form 5-25 wt%; and
`minerals
`"trace" minerals
`comprise
`<5 wt%
`
`Site name,
`sample number
`
`Latitude,
`longitude
`
`identified
`Minerals
`by x-ray diffraction
`Major
`
`Minor
`
`Trace
`
`Talc City mine
`11ADV02
`11CDV03
`
`11FDV03
`12ADV02
`Silver Dollar mine
`13ADV02
`Alliance mine
`14ADV02
`14DDV03
`
`Frisco mine
`15ADV02
`Viking mine
`16ADV02
`
`36.3315,
`
`-117.6677
`
`36.3371,
`
`-117.6617
`
`36.3421,
`
`-117.6717
`
`36.3303,
`
`-117.6800
`
`36.3543,
`
`-117.7104
`
`Talc
`Talc
`
`Talc
`Talc, calcite
`
`Calcite,
`
`talc
`
`Talc
`Talc, quartz
`
`Clinochlore
`
`Talc
`
`Clinochlore,
`vermiculite(i)
`
`Quartz,
`Quartz,
`
`clinochlore
`calcite
`
`Kaolinite
`Dolomite,
`
`kaolinite
`
`Clinochlore
`
`Quartz,
`
`dolomite
`
`Quartz
`Vermiculite(?),
`kaolinite
`
`Talc, K-feldspar
`
`Clinochlore,
`
`quartz
`
`924
`
`Environmental Geology (2004) 45:920-939
`
`

`

`202209030110
`
`FILED: MONROE COUNTY CLERK 09/03/2022 02:20 PMFILED: SUFFOLK COUNTY CLERK 12/30/2024 03:00 PM
`
`NYSCEF DOC. NO. 651NYSCEF DOC. NO. 216
`
`Index #: E2020003840
`
`INDEX NO. E2020003840INDEX NO. 612331/2023
`
`
`
`RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/03/2022RECEIVED NYSCEF: 12/30/2024
`
`Original artide
`
`in
`
`of
`
`sparse are fluid-inclusion
`which contains trace amounts of limo-
`green coloration,
`talc deposits.
`Especially
`cial)
`talc bodies in the U.S. Relevant
`nite and goethite
`studies of the major
`along with traces of
`replaced pyrite,
`that
`to 1%Fe2+
`The light
`investigations
`published fluid
`green color
`data are primarily
`inclusion
`is attributed
`graphite.
`talc"
`for Mgin octahedral
`of deposits described as "hydrothermal
`replaced
`that
`lat-
`sites within
`the talc
`OH-
`substituting
`of F-
`(Cerino 2002). Minor substitution
`dolostones or magnesite; most of
`these deposits
`lack
`for
`is also
`tice
`amphibole. Examples are described below.
`noted. The bulk chemical compositions
`of talcose ores are
`As noted earlier,
`shown in Table 3.
`to the
`linked
`inclusions
`analyses
`of
`fluid
`of the Ruby and Gravelly Ranges of
`This study analyzed four samples of massive pale-green
`large talc deposits
`published. Gammons
`southwest Montana were recently
`two
`from the floor
`by the lead author
`of
`talc ore collected
`the Yellowstone mine-two samples from an and Matt
`reported analyses and interpretation
`of
`open pits
`of
`(2002)
`pit. XRDand SEM-EDSfluid
`associated with the large talc bodies at
`the
`active pit and two from an inactive
`inclusions
`Yellowstone mine, Gravelly Range, Montana. They deter-
`talc, with no other
`analyses of these samples revealed
`190° to
`large eu- mined that
`fluids were brines
`found. Late-stage
`mineral
`the talc-forming
`(2.2 mNa+),
`at
`impurities
`(post-talc),
`250 °C containing about 10 wt% NaCl
`of quartz and dolomite, accompanied by
`hedral crystals
`11 wt% CaCl2. and relatively
`low dissolved CO2; trapping
`Fe oxide minerals,
`commonly line
`fine-grained
`cavities
`pressures were estimated at 1-4 kbar. Brady and others
`the talc bodies and country
`developed along faults
`that cut
`(2003) examined the isotope geochemistry of muscovites
`rock. These faults, which display normal displacements,
`in dolomite and calcite
`to the
`and fluid
`related
`(Cerino 2002) with inter-
`as growth faults
`inclusions
`are interpreted
`mittent movement through time. Magnesite is plentiful
`of talc bodies in the nearby Ruby Range; they
`formation
`and
`determined the metasomatic fluids were water-rich
`the dolomitic marble that borders the talc
`deposits.
`below ~350 °C.
`CO2-poor, and that
`the talc
`crystallized
`at Rabenwald,
`Large, amphibole-deficient
`west Texas
`talc deposits
`Allamoore district,
`to have formed by
`are thought
`eastern Alps of Austria,
`The ceramic-grade and paint-grade
`(higher
`purity)
`talc
`reacted with
`being mined in the Allamoore district
`saline hydrothermal
`SiO2-rich
`that
`bodies currently
`fluids
`magnesite (Moine and others
`inclusions
`replacement of
`1989). Fluid
`west Texas were formed by the selective
`in
`show a wide
`magnesite. Bourbon (1982, p.77)
`quartz associated with the talc deposition
`suggested:
`"the
`[host]
`with up to 32 wt% NaC1 and 3.7 wt%
`range of salinities,
`magnesite deposits were formed by chemical precipitation
`the inclusions were trapped at
`ephemeral
`lagoons or in associated
`that
`indicate
`CaCl; analyses
`hypersaline
`in isolated
`a minimumof 350 °C and 3 kbar vapor pressure
`(Pohl and
`lakes." Desiccation
`cracks and pseudomorphs of anhydrite
`preserved on bedding surfaces
`Belocky 1999).
`and halite,
`in the talcose
`environ-
`in northern Spain are
`of Puebla de Lillo
`the hypersaline depositional
`Talc deposits
`indicate
`intervals,
`the host magnesite. Bourbon (1981, 1982) con-
`replacement bodies in dolostones adjacent
`to quartzites.
`ment of
`in dolomite and quartz related
`to
`formed via replacement of
`cluded that Allamoore talc
`studies
`inclusion
`Fluid
`conducted by Tornos and Spiro (2000),
`connate or meteoric waters
`magnesite by hydrothermal
`the talc deposits,
`fluids were NaCl-CaCl2-rich
`suggest
`the talc-forming
`in solution.
`that carried
`silica
`at between 280° and 405 °C with variable
`a dilemma to the other-
`The Allamoore district
`salinities
`brines
`presents
`(0-23 wt% NaC1 eq), under
`environ-
`of only