THE SCHUNDLER COMPANY


Lakefield Research Ltd.
REPORT ON HEDMAN VERMICULITE
(ONTARIO, CANADA)

December 24, 1996



Lakefield Research Limited
Minerology Group
Ontario, Canada

December 24, 1996

Mineralogical Examination of Vermiculite Ore

Summary

A bulk sample of vermiculite ore (sample C) was submitted to the mineralogy laboratory for mineralogical examination and identification of asbestos mineral phases. The procedure followed for the determination of asbestos from bulk samples is outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Ontario regulation 654/85).

An x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was performed on the sample to determine the relative proportions of major and minor mineral components, and to determine the presence or absence of asbestos minerals (see attached XRD analysis).

The bulk sample was initially examined for fibrous, asbestos mineral phases using a binocular microscope at 160x to 400x magnification. The head sample (sample C) was found to consist primarily of vermiculite, chlorite, and minor hematite, with no evidence of fibrous or asbestos minerals. Due to the large grain size of the bulk sample, it was riffled, screened (at 40 mesh), and re-examined at a smaller size fraction (<425 um). There were no asbestos fibers detected in either the bulk sample or the screened fraction.

A polished thin section of the bulk sample was prepared and examined under transmitted light using a petrographic microscope at 160x to 450x magnification. The microscopic examination indicated that vermiculite was the dominant mineral phase, with lesser amounts of chlorite, and minor hermatite. There were no asbestos mineral phases or fibers detected in sample C (detection limit 0.5%).

Regards Lakefield Research Lmited

Stephanie Downing
Mineralogist

Edward Walker, Ph.D.
Operations Manager
Mineralogy

The Schundler Company
10 Central Street
Nahant, MA 01908
(ph)732-287-2244 (fax) 732-287-4185
www.schundler.com
mailto:info@schundler.com

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