Product Stewardship in Wollastonite Production

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.