NIIproektasbest JSC, Asbest, Russia

V. A. Zyryanov, Head of Geological Research Sector, Candidate of Geological and Mineralogical Sciences, zyryanova2011@gmail.com
G. F. Tyumentseva, Head of Physicochemical Research Group

The unique Bazhenovo deposit of chrysotile asbestos contains all varieties of chrysotile: from dramatically preponderate normal chrysotile of high strength and elasticity to brittle and slip fiber chrysotile rarely met at the other deposits. Alongside with chrysotile asbestos connected with peridotite, favorable for the formation of asbestos, there is asbestos contained in dunite and apodunite serpentine. Materials for the research were the studies of influence of chrysotile asbestos with different physicochemical properties on the strength of chrysotile cement samples. When intersecting apodunite serpentinite bodies, even if they are thin, asbestos veins lose their thickness up to complete thinning-away; sometimes chrysotile asbestos is replaced by ophite; brucite and other magnesian minerals appear; the strength of fibers decreases. Alongside with the composition of enclosing rocks, significant, if not decisive, influence on the quality of chrysotile asbestos is exerted by serpentinite—direct reservoirs of chrysotile veins. Serpentinite is a natural mineral-generating medium which favors formation of chrysotile asbestos with all its physical, mechanical and physicochemical properties. This shows up most pronouncedly in comparison of mineral composition of serpentinite and qualities of fibers. The analysis of microscopically observed ratios of serpentinite minerals makes it possible to arrive at the conclusion that the metasomatic zonality results from the sequential origination and overlapping of different serpentinization types, conditioned by the nature of pre-ore and intra-ore tectonics, variety of sources of solutions, changes of thermodynamic conditions and, above all, by alkalinity–acidity of the medium. An inference is deduced that the test deposit is an example of classical zonality in location of types of asbestos presence; the latter are inseparable from the mineral composition of enclosing serpentinite; the quality of chrysotile asbestos is closely correlated with petrographic composition of enclosing rocks, as well as with the type and degree of their serpentinization.

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