THE SCHUNDLER COMPANY

by IOM CONSULTING
Edinburgh, Scotland
January 2002

Sampling and analysis of crude vermiculite stocks
at the Palabora Europe Ltd store at North Killingholme
CONTRACT NO: 874D/1 PROJECT NO: 163

1. INTRODUCTION

Palabora Europe Limited are the European distributors of vermiculite produced by the Palabora Mining Company from open cast mines at Phalaborwa, Transvaal, South Africa.

In order to address concern on Health and Safety issues in the world-wide market for vermiculite, Palabora Europe have previously commissioned the IOM to undertake a detailed analysis of vermiculite from the main PP & V ore body at Phalaborwa and one grade from the adjacent VODT deposit. This original study produced favourable results and was followed up by a less detailed routine screening exercise. This investigation was a continuation of the routine screening exercise.

IOM Consulting was therefore invited to carry out a further independent sampling and analysis exercise on behalf of Palabora Europe Limited. The main aims were to collect representative samples from each grade of vermiculite as available in the European market, split them and analyse them at the IOM Consulting's Edinburgh headquarters for asbestiform mineral content. However, for this exercise further samples of vermiculite were collected so that respirable and total inhalable dust and quartz concentrations could be determined. The results for this part of the exercise are reported separately under IOM report 874D/2.

2. SAMPLING

Mr Steve Clark of IOM Consulting and Mr Mike Darling of Palabora Europe Limited visited the Palabora Europe Ltd vermiculite bulk store at North Killingholme Humberside, on 16th January 2002. At the North Killingholme site, six different grades of vermiculite (micron PP & V, superfine PP & V, fine PP & V, medium PP & V, large PP & V and superfine VODT) were stored inside large silos of approximately 27 metres diameter and 9 metres high. The approximate stocks at the time of sampling are summarised in Table 1.

Samples were collected from each grade as representatively as possible, by clearing away loose dust from the top of the material and digging into the stock as far as possible, avoiding any material falling in and re-mixing. A number of sub samples per site were extracted and mixed from each stockpile. Each sample was split on site with one sample being retained by Palabora Europe and the rest by IOM Consulting.

For the respirable and total inhalable dust and quartz simulation, additional vermiculite was collected from the PP & V micron grade.

Sample Analysis Protocol

The main objective was to identify any hazardous asbestos fibres present in the vermiculite. This was achieved as follows:

• Initial examination by stereo-binocular microscopy and polarised light microscopy using methods described in HSE document MDHS 77 (HSE, 1 994a).
• Quantitative assessment of amphibole asbestos by electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometry of any sample for which asbestos fibres were detected in (i) above.

Back to Main