Abstract
Potential asbestos-bearing rocks account for about 0.2% of the land area of eastern Australia. The main mode of occurrence is as narrow cross fibre and slip fibre veins of chrysotile asbestos in serpentinised ophiolite complexes along the boundaries of major tectonic domains. Smaller deposits of chrysotile and amphibole asbestos occur in metamorphosed mafic and ultramafic rocks associated with the Macquarie Volcanic Arc in New South Wales. Amphibole asbestos is also known from Proterozoic and Palaeozoic amphibolite and from Devonian basalt. Natural asbestos-bearing materials in eastern Australia have been disturbed by mining, road construction, agriculture and forestry, urban development and through natural weathering processes. Persons most at risk of potential exposure to asbestos from natural sources include: farmers who work or live in areas where asbestos-bearing materials may be routinely disturbed by agricultural activities; construction workers involved in large-scale earthwork projects in areas underlain by asbestos-bearing rocks; and quarry workers who unwittingly disturb asbestos-bearing materials. Government authorities and private enterprise need to take geological factors into account to reduce the likelihood of unplanned disturbance of natural asbestos-bearing materials.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Absolon N (2006) Naturally occurring asbestos. Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia, NSW Division Conference, Sydney
AIHW (2007) Cancer in Australia: an overview, 2006. Cancer Series No. 37. Cat. No. CAN 32. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), Australasian Association of Cancer Registries (AACR), Canberra
Aitchison JC, Blake MC, Flood PG, Jatko AS (1994) Paleozoic ophiolite assemblages within the southern New England orogen of eastern Australia: Implications for growth of the Gondwana margin. Tectonics 13(5):1135–1149
Aitchison JC, Ireland TR (1995) Age profile of ophiolitic rocks across the late Palaeozoic New England orogen, New South Wales: implications for tectonic models. Aust J Earth Sci 42:11–23
Anon (2005) No need for alarm, 6 September 2005. Tumut and Adelong Times, Tumut, p 1
ASCC (2007) Hazardous substances information system—consolidated list. Australian Safety and Compensation Council, Department of Workplace Relations, Canberra
Baris Y, Sahin A, Ozesmi M, Kerse E, Ozen E, Kolacan B, Altinors M, Goktepeli A (1978) An outbreak of pleural mesothelioma and chronic fibrosing pleurisy in the village of Karain/Urgup in Anatolia. Thorax 33:181–192
Baris I, Simonato L, Artvinli M, Saracci R, Skidmore J, Wagner C (1987) Epidemiological and environmental evidence of the health effects of exposure to erionite fibres: a four year study in the Cappadocian region of Turkey. Int J Cancer 39:10–17
Barnes RG, Henley HF, Henley JE (1995) Exploration data package for the Tenterfield and Coaldale 1:100000 sheer areas. Geological Survey Report GS1995/004, Department of Mineral Resources, New South Wales
Barron BJ (1988) Platinum project: petrology and chemistry of rocks. Geological Survey of New South Wales, Unpublished Report GS1987/298, p 313
Barron L (1979) Proposed use of basic rocks from Heffernan and ‘O’Callaghan Quarries as armour stone on Eden Breakwater. Geological Survey of New South Wales, Unpublished Report GS1979/288
Barron L, Barron BJ (1996) The Limburgite Suite in the Bathurst Dubbo Area. Geological Survey of New South Wales Quarterly Notes 99, New South Wales Department of Mineral Resources, pp 1–24
Barron L, Ohnenstetter M, Barron BJ, Suppel DW, Falloon T (2004) Geology of the Fifield Alaskan type complexes, New South Wales, Australia Geological Survey Report No. GS2004/323, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries–Mineral Resources
Bassani C, Cavalli RM, Cavalcante F, Cuomo V, Palombo A, Pascucci S, Pignatti S (2007) Deterioration status of asbestos–cement roofing sheets asessed by analyzing hyperspectral data. Remote Sens Environ 109(3):361–378
Baumann F, Rougier Y, Ambrosi JP, Robineau BP (2007) Pleural mesothelioma in New Caledonia: an acute environmental concern. Cancer Detect Prev 31:70–76
Bottrill RS (1991) Asbestos at Savage River. Tasmania Department of Resources and Energy Report 1991/25
Brodkin CA, Balmes JR, Redlich CA, Cullen MR (2006) Residential proximity to naturally occurring asbestos: health risk of ecologic fallacy? Am J Respir Crit Care Med 173:573–574
Buckland GL (1987) Geology and mineral potential of the Mount Stavely Volcanic Complex. Geological Survey Report 80. Geological Survey of Victoria
Burilkov T, Michailova L (1970) Asbestos content of the soil and endemic pleural asbestosis. Environ Res 3:443–451
Burragato F, Comba P, Baiocchi V, Palladino DM, Simei S, Gianfagna A, Paoletti L, Pasetto R (2005) Geo-volcanological, mineralogical and environmental aspects of quarry materials related to pleural neoplasm in the area of Biancavilla, Mount Etna (Eastern Sicily, Italy). Environ Geol 47:855–868
Cardile V, Lombardo L, Belluso E, Panico A, Capella S, Balazy M (2007) Toxicity and carcinogenicity mechanisms of fibrous antigorite. Int J Environ Res Public Health 4(1):1–9
Churchill RK, Hill RL (2000) A general location guide for ultramafic rocks in California—areas more likely to contain naturally occurring asbestos. California Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Energy, Open File Report 2000-19.
Churchill RK, Higgins CT, Hill B (2000) Areas more likely to contain natural occurrences of asbestos in Western El Dorado County, California. California Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology, Open file report: 2000-002
Churg A (1988) Chrysotile, tremolite and malignant mesothelioma in man. Chest 93:621–628
Clinkenbeard JP, Churchill RK, Lee K (2002) Guidelines for geologic investigations of naturally occurring asbestos in California. Special Publication 124. Department of Conservation, California Geological Survey
Coleman RG (2002) New Idria serpentinite; a land management dilemma. Environ Eng Geosci 2(1):9–22
Comba P, Gianfagna A, Paoletti L (2003) Pleural mesothelioma cases in Biancavilla are related to a new fluoro-edenite fibrous amphibole. Arch Environ Health 58(4):229–232
Coraglia B, Forlati F, Fusetti E, Giacomelli L, Morelli M, Piazzano P, Schellino G, Wojtowicz M (2006) Naturally occurring asbestos mapping project: the experience of Regione Piemonte. Eurpopean Conference on Asbestos Risk and Management, Rome
Crawford AJ, Meffre S, Squire RJ, Barron LM, Falloon TJ (2007) Middle and Late Ordovician magmatic evolution of the Macquarie Arc, Lachlan Orogen, New South Wales. Aust J Earth Sci 54:181–214
Cugell D, Kamp D (2004) Asbestos and the Pleura: a review. Chest 125:1103–1117
Curtain ME (1992) Dust particles and asbestiform material, Savage River Mines, Savage River. Tasmania Department of Mines, Report 1992/13
De Klerk NH, Musk AW (2002) Epidemiology of mesothelioma. In: Robinson BWS, Chahinian AP (eds) Mesothelioma. Taylor & Francis, London, pp 339–349
Dusek J, Yetman JM (2002) Control and prevention of asbestos exposure from construction in naturally occurring asbestos. Fairfax County Health Department, Air Pollution Control Division
Edwards J, Wohlt KE, Slater KR, Olshina A, Hutchinson DF (1998) Heathcote and parts of Woodend and Echuca 1:100000 map area and geological report. Geological Survey of Victoria Report 108. Melbourne, Geological Survey of Victoria
Emri S, Demir A (2004) Malignant pleural mesothelioma in Turkey, 2000–2002. Lung Cancer 45S:S17–S20
Ferguson DA, Berry G, Jelihovsky T, Andreas SB, Rogers AJ, Fung SC, Grimwood A, Thompson R (1987) The Australian mesothelioma surveillance program 1979–1985. Med J Aust 147:166–172
Foster D, Gray D, Spaggiari C (2005) Timing of subduction and exhumation along the Cambrian East Gondwana margin, and the formation of Paleozoic backarc basins. GSA Bull 117:105–116
Francesconi N (2004) Environmental review Hume Highway (SH2) Coolac Bypass, Roads and Traffic Authority, New South Wales Government
Gazzano E, Riganti C, Tomatis M, Turci F, Bosia A, Fubini B, Ghigo D (2005) Potential toxicity of nonregulated asbestiform minerals: Balangeroite from the Western Alps. Part 3: Depletion of antioxidant defenses. J Toxicol Environ Health A 68:41–49
Gianfagna A, Ballirano P, Bellatreccia F, Bruni B, Paoletti L, Oberti R (2003) Characterization of amphibole fibres linked to mesothelioma in the area of Biancovilla, Eastern Sicily, Italy. Mineral Mag 67(6):1221–1229
Gibbons W (2000) Amphibole asbestos in Africa and Australia: geology, health hazard and mining legacy. J Geol Soc 157:851–858
Glen RA, Butt BC (1981) Chrysotile asbestos at Woodsreef, New South Wales. Econ Geol 76:1153–1169
Goldberg M, Luce D (2005) Can exposure to very low levels of asbestos induce pleural mesothelioma? Am J Respir Crit Care Med 172:939–940
Graham IT, Franklin B, Marshall B, Leitch EC, Fanning CM (1996) Tectonic significance of 400 Ma zircon ages for ophiolitic rocks from the Lachlan fold belt, eastern Australia. Geology 24(12):1111–1114
Gray D, Foster D, Korsch RJ, Spaggiari C (2006) Structural style and crustal architecture of the Tasminides of eastern Australia: example of a composite accretionary orogen. In: Mazzoli S, Butler RWH (eds) Styles of continental contraction: Geological Society of America Special Paper 414, pp 119–132
Groppo C, Tomatis M, Turci F, Gazzano E, Ghigo D, Compagnoni R, Fubini B (2005) Potential toxicity of nonregulated asbestiform minerals: Balangeroite from the Western Alps. Part 1: Identification and characterization. J Toxicol Environ Health A 68(1):1–19
Gunter ME, Belluso E, Mottana A (2007) Amphiboles: environmental and health concerns. In: Hawthorne FC, Oberti R, Ventura GD, Mottana A (eds) Amphiboles: crystal chemistry, occurrence and health issues. Reviews in mineralogy and geochemistry, vol 67. Mineralogical Society of America
Henderson DW, Jones ML, De Klerk NH, Leigh J, Musk AW, Shilkin KB, Williams VM (2004) The diagnosis and attribution of asbestos-related diseases in an Australian context. Int J Environ Occup Health 10:40–46
Hendrickx M (2008a) Carbonate hosted asbestos occurrences in South Australia: review of geology and mesothelioma risk. Aust J Earth Sci (submitted)
Hendrickx M (2008b) Records of the Australian mesothelioma surveillance program (AMSP) have been lost! Med J Aust 188(9):552
Hillerdal G (1999) Mesothelioma: cases associated with non-occupational and low dose exposures. Occup Environ Med 56:505–513
Hillerdal G (2003) Health problems related to environmental fibrous minerals. In: Skinner C, Berger A (eds) Geology and Health: closing the gap. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 113–118
IARC (1987) IARC monographs. Supplement 7: Asbestos. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon
IRTM (2007) Interactive resource and tenure maps. The State of Queensland, Department of Natural Resources and Water. http://www.nrw.qld.gov.au/science/geoscience/tenure_maps.html. Accessed 12 October
Kava R, Choi EH (2007) Asbestos exposure: how risky is it? New York American Council on Science and Health
Keeling JL, Raven MD, McClure SG (2006) Identification of fibrous mineral from Rowland Flat area, Barossa Valley, South Australia. Report 2006/2. Department of Primary Industries and Resources, South Australia
Kellaway C, Rhodes D, Jean M (2002) Glenelg Shire heritage study: an environmental history—Part 1. Prepared for Heritage Victoria and the Glenelg Shire October 2002, p 150
Kirkegaard AG, Shaw RD, Murray CG (1970) Geology of the Rockhampton and Port Clinton 1:250000 Sheet areas. Report No. 38. Geological Survey of Queensland
Kohn BP, Gleadow AJW, Brown RW, Gallagher K, O’Sullivan PB, Foster DA (2002) Shaping the Australian crust over the last 300 million years: insights from fision track thermotectonic imaging and denudation studies of key terranes. Aust J Earth Sci 49(4):697–717
Langer A, Nolan R, Constantopoulos S, Moutsopoulos H (1987) Association of Metsovo lung and pleural mesothelioma with exposure to tremolite-containing whitewash. Lancet 1:965–967
Laughton CA, Green N (2002) The Woodsreef magnesium project—an example of sustainable mineral waste processing from mined ore and its utilisation to produce refined metal products green processing 2002 Cairns, Queensland, Australian Institute of Mining and Metalurgy
Leake BE, Woolley AR, Arps CE, Birch WD, Gilbert C, Grice JD, Hawthorne FC, Kato A, Kisch HJ, Krivovichev VG, Linthout K, Laird J, Mandarino JA, Maresch WV, Nickel EH, Rock NM, Schumacher JC, Smith DC, Stephenson NC, Ungaretti L, Whittaker EJW, Youzhi G (1997) Nomenclature of amphiboles: report of the subcommittee on amphiboles of the International Mineralogical Association, Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Am Mineral 82:1019–1037
Leigh J, Robinson BWS (2002) The history of mesothelioma in Australia 1945–2001. In: Robinson BWS (ed) mesothelioma. Taylor & Francis, London, pp 55–86
Leigh J, Davidson P, Hendrie L, Berry D (2002) Malignant mesothelioma in Australia, 1945–2000. Am J Ind Med 41:188–201
Lemen RA (2004) Asbestos in brakes: exposure and risk of disease. Am J Ind Med 45:229–237
Lemen RA, Dement JM, Wagoner JK (1980) Epidemiology of asbestos related diseases. Environ Health Perspect 34:1–11
Luce D, Bugel I, Goldberg P, Goldberg M, Salomon C, Billon-Galland M, Nicolau J, Quenel P, Fevotte J, Brochard P (2000) Environmental exposure to tremolite and respiratory cancer in New Caledonia: a case–control study. Am J Epidemiol 151(3):259–265
Luo S, Liu X, Mu S, Tsai SP, Wen CP (2003) Asbestos related diseases from environmental exposure to crocidolite in Da-Yao, China. 1. Review of exposure and epidemiological data. Occup Environ Med 60:35–42
Lyons MT, Brooks RR, Craig DC (1974) The influence of soil composition on the vegetation of the Coolac Serpentinite Belt in New South Wales. J Proc R Soc NSW 107:67–75
MacNevin AA (1970) Asbestos. Mineral industry of New South Wales Report No. 4. Sydney Geological Survey of New South Wales
McConnochie K, Simonato L, Mavrides P, Christofides P, Pooley F, Wagner J (1987) Mesothelioma in Cyprus: the role of tremolite. Thorax 42:343–347
McCrone WC (1974) Detection and identification of asbestos by microscopical dispersion staining. Environ Health Perspect 9:57–61
McDonald J, Armstrong B, Case B, Doell D, McCaughey W, Mcdonald A, Sebastien P (1989) Mesothelioma and asbestos fiber type: evidence from lung tissue analysis. Cancer 63(8):1544–1547
McEvilly RP, Malloch KR, Watkins JJ, Tadros VN, Wiles LA, Moloney J and Mantaring AR (2004) Nandewar mineral and petroleum resources and potential, Nandewar Western Regional Assessment. Resource and Conservation Assessment Council, New South Wales Government, p 250
Meeker GP, Bern AM, Brownfield IK, Lowers HA, Sutley SJ, Hoefen TM, Vance JS (2003) The composition and morphology of amphiboles from Rainy Creek Complex, near Libby, Montana. Am Mineral 88:1955–1969
Meeker GP, Lowers HA, Swayze GA, Van Gosen BS, Sutley SJ, Brownfield IK (2006) Mineralogy and morphology of amphiboles observed in soils and rocks in El Dorado Hills, California: December 2006. US Geological Survey. Open file Report 2006-1362, p 47
Metintas M, Ozdemir N, Hillerdal G, Ucgan I, Metintas S, Baykul C, Elbek O, Mutlu S, Kolsuz M (1999) Environmental asbestos exposure and malignant pleural mesothelioma. Respir Med 93:349–355
Metintas S, Metintas M, Ucgan I, Oner U (2002) Malignant mesothelioma due to environmental exposure to asbestos: follow up of a Turkish cohort living in a rural area. Chest 122(6):2224–2229
Meurman LO, Pukkala E, Hakama M (1994) Incidence of cancer among anthophyllite asbestos miners in Finland. Occup Environ Med 51(6):421–425
MINVIEW (2007) MinView—map viewer. New South Wales, Department of Primary Resources. http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/minerals/geological/online-services/minview. Accessed 12 October
Morand V, Wohlt KE, Cayley R, Taylor D, Kemp AIS, Simons B, Magart A (2003) Glenelg special map area geological report. Geological Survey of Victoria Report 123, Geological Survey of Victoria
Neville MJ (1980) Eden Port development: breakwater quarry sites, geological investigation at O’Callaghan’s Quarry and Heffernan’s Quarry, Geological Survey of New South Wales. Unpublished Report 1980/041
Noakes LC, Ludbrook NH (1948) Asbestos: mineral resources of Australia. Summary Report 17. Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra
NOHSC (2004) The incidence of mesothelioma in Australia 1999 to 2001: Australian mesothelioma register report 2004, National Occupational Health and Safety Commission
NOHSC (2005) Code of practice for the management and control of asbestos in workplaces: NOHSC:2018(2005). Canberra National Occupational Health and Safety Committee, Australian Government Publishing Service
O’Hanley DS (1996) Serpentinites: records of tectonic and petrological history. Oxford University Press, New York
O’Hanley DS, Offler R (1992) Characterisation of multiple serpentinization, Woodsreef, New South Wales. Can Mineral 30:1113–1126
Packham GH (1968) Bathurst 1:250000 geological sheet SI55-8. Geological Survey of New South Wales, Sydney
Pan X-L, Day HW, Wang W, Beckett LA, Schenker MB (2005) Residential proximity to naturally occurring asbestos and mesothelioma risk in California. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 172:1019–1025
Pasetto R, Comba P, Marconi A (2005) Mesothelioma associated with environmental exposures. Med Lav 96(4):330–337
Peipins LA, Lewin M, Campolucci S, Lybarger JA, Miller A, Middleton D, Weis C, Spence M, Black B, Kapil V (2003) Radiographic abnornamities and exposure to asbestos contaminated vermiculite in the community of Libby, Montana, USA. Environ Health Perspect 111(14):1753–1759
Percival I, Glen RA (2007) Ordovician to earliest Silurian history of the Macquarie Arc, Lachlan Orogen, New South Wales. Aust J Earth Sci 54:143–165
Plumlee GS, Morman SA, Ziegler TL (2006) The toxicological geochemistry of earth materials: an overview of the processes and the interdisciplinary methods used to understand them. Rev Mineral Geochem 64:5–57
Pogson DJ, Watkins JJ (1998) Bathurst 1:250000 geological sheet SI/55-8: explanatory notes. Sydney Geological Survey of New South Wales
QLD-DME (2007) Queensland minerals: a summary of major mineral resources, mines and prospects, 4th edn. Department of Mines and Energy, Queensland
Ribak J, Seidman H, Selikoff IJ (1989) Amosite mesothelioma in a cohort of asbestos workers. Scand J Work Environ Health 15(2):106–110
Rinaudo C, Gastaldi D (2003) Characterization of chrysotile antigorite and lizardite by FT-Raman Spectroscopy. Can Mineral 41:883–890
Rohl AN, Langer AM, Selikoff IJ (1977) Environmental asbestos pollution related to use of quarried serpentine rock. Science 196:1319–1322
Ross M, Nolan RP (2003) History of asbestos discovery and use and asbestos-related disease in context with the occurrence of asbestos within ophiolite complexes. In: Dilek Y, Newcomb S (eds) Ophiolite concept and the evolution of geological thought, vol 373. Colorado Geological Society of America Special Paper, Boulder, pp 447–470
Sakai K, Hisanaga N, Kohyama N, Shibata E, Takeuchi Y (2001) Airborne fiber concetration and size distribution of mineral fibres in area with serpentinite outcrops in Aichi prefecture, Japan. Ind Health 39:132–140
Sakellariou K, Malalmou-Mitsi V, Haritou A, Kuompaniou C, Stachouli C, Dimoliatis ID, Constantopoulos SH (1996) Malignant pleural mesothelioma from nonoccupational exposure in Metsovo (north-west Greece): slow end of an epidemic. Eur Respir J 9:1206–1210
Senyigit A, Babayigit C, Gokirmak M, Topcu F, Asan E, Coskunsel M, Isik R, Ertem M (2000) Incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma due to environmental asbestos fiber exposure in the southeast of Turkey. Respiration 67(6):610–614
Senyigit A, Dalgic A, Kavak O, Tanrikulul AC (2004) Determination of environmental exposure to asbestos (Tremolite) and mesothelioma risks in the southeastern region of Turkey. Arch Environ Health 59(12):658–662
Simpson BR (1976) Asbestos—Queensland. In: Knight CL (ed) Economic geology of Australia and Papua New Guinea-4. Industrial minerals and rocks, vol 9. Victoria Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Parkville
Skinner C, Ross M, Frondel C (1988) Asbestos and other fibrous materials: mineralogy, crystal chemistry and health effects. Oxford University Press, New York
Spaggiari C (2003) Geological and geophysical maps of Cambrian and related rocks of the Mount Wellington Belt, Lachlan Orogen, northeastern Victoria, Department of Primary Industries, Geological Survey of Victoria, Technical Record 2003/3
Spaggiari C, Gray D, Foster D (2004) Ophiolite accretion in the Lachlan orogen, Southeastern Australia. J Struct Geol 26:87–112
Specht A, Forth F, Steenbeeke G (2001) The effect of serpentine on vegetation structure, composition and endemism in northern New South Wales, Australia. S Afr J Sci 97:521–529
Stanton MF, Layard M, Tegeris A, Miller E, May M, Morgan E, Smith A (1981) Relation of particle dimension to carcinogenicity in amphibole asbestoses and other fibrous minerals. J Natl Cancer Inst 67:965–975
Stayner L (1996) Occupational exposure to chrysotile asbestos and cancer risk: a review of the amphibole hypothesis. Am J Public Health 86(2):179–186
Stuart-Smith PG, Hill RI, Rickard MJ, Etheridge MA (1992) The stratigraphy and deformation history of the Tumut region: implications for the development of the Lachlan Fold Belt. Tectonophysics 214:211–237
Sullivan PA (2007) Vermiculite, respiratory disease and asbestos exposure in Libby, Montana: update of a chort mortality study. Environ Health Perspect 115(4):579–585
Swayze GA, Higgins CT, Clinkenbeard JP, Kokaly RF, Clark RN, Meeker GP, Sutley SJ (2004) Preliminary report on using imaging spectroscopy to map ultramafic rocks, serpentinites, and tremolite-actinolite bearing rocks in California, United States Geological Survey, Open File Report 2004/1304
Taylor BL (1950) Asbestos in Tasmania. Geological Survey Mineral Resources Report No. 9. Hobart Tasmania Department of Mines, Tasmania
Threader VM (1976) Asbestos—Tasmania. In: Knight CL (ed) Economic geology of Australian and Papua New Guinea-4. Industrial rocks and minerals, vol 12. Victoria Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Parkville
Trezise DL, O’Flynn ML, Willmott WF (1983) Industrial rock and mineral resources of the Rockhampton Region 1:100 000 sheet area. Geological Survey of Queensland Record No. 1983/08
Turci F, Tomatis M, Gazzano E, Riganti C, Martra G, Bosia A, Ghigo D, Fubini B (2005) Potential toxicity of nonregulated asbestiform minerals: Balangeroite from the Western Alps. Part 2: Oxidant activity of the fibers. J Toxicol Environ Health A 68(1):21–39
Van Gosen BS (2005) Reported historic asbestos mines, historical asbestos prospects, and natural asbestos occurrences in the Eastern United States. US Geological Survey Open file Report 2005-1189
Van Gosen BS (2006) Reported historic asebstos prospects and natural occurrences in the Central United States. US Geological Survey Open File Report 2006-1211
Van Gosen BS (2007a) The geology of asbestos in the United States and its practical applications. Environ Eng Geosci 13(1):55–68
Van Gosen BS (2007b) Reported historic asbestos mines, historic asbestos prospects, and natural asbestos occurrences in the Rocky Mountain States of the United States (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming). US Geological Survey Open File Report 2007-1182
Van Gosen BS, Lowers HA, Sutley SJ, Gent CA (2004) Using the geologic setting of talc deposits as an indicator of amphibole asbestos content. Environ Geol 45:920–939
Vandenberg A, Willman C, Hendrickx M, Bush M, Sands B (1994) The geology and prospectivity of the 1993 Mount Wellington Airborne Survey Area Melbourne Department of Natural Resources
Vanderstaay AGB (1990) Preliminary analysis of asbestos at, and asbestos hazard of, Spinifex Quarry. MR District 6, Report No. CR434, Queensland Department of Transport
Virta RL (2006) Worldwide asbestos supply and consumption trends from 1900 through 2003. US Geological Survey Circular 1298, p 80 (available only online)
Voisin C, Marin I, Brochard P, Pairon J-C (1994) Environmental airborne tremolite asbestos pollution and pleural plaques in Afghanistan. Chest 106(3):974–976
Wagner JC, Sleggs CA, Marchand P (1960) Diffuse pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in the North Western Cape Province. Br J Ind Med 17:260–271
Warner PJ, Marshall B, Franklin BJ (1992) The Mooney Mooney Fault System and Coolac ophiolite suite in the tectonics of the Tumut Trough, southeastern Australia. Aust J Earth Sci 39:127–140
Wells BE (1956) Geology of the Casterton District. Proc R Soc Vic 68:85–110
Wicks FJ, O’Hanley DS (1988) Serpentine minerals: structures and petrology. In: Bailey SW (ed) Hydrous phyllosilicates (exclusive of micas). Reviews in mineralogy, vol 19. Mineralogical Society of America, Washington DC, pp 125–128
Wozniak H, Wiecek E, Stetkiewicz J, Wyszynska K (1993) Experimental carcinogenicity and mutagenicity of non-asbestos natural fibres-preliminary report. Pol J Occup Med Environ Health 6(1):55–60
Wylie AG, Verkouteren JR (2000) Amphibole asbestos from Libby, Montana: aspects of nomenclature. Am Mineral 85:1540–1542
Zeren H, Gumurdulu D, Roggli V, Tuncer I, Zorludemir S, Erkisi M (2000) Environmental malignant mesothelioma in Southern Anatolia: a study of fifty cases. Environ Health Perspect 108(11):1047–1050
Zolov C, Bourilikov T, Babadjov L (1967) Pleural asbestosis in agricultural workers. Environ Res 1:287–292
Acknowledgments
The author thanks Dr Geoff Plumlee and Prof Brian Gulson for in depth and constructive reviews and comments of the manuscript. Local councils are thanked for their cooperation in providing information about historical use of serpentinite gravels and recent remediation efforts. Thanks go to Damon Bird for assistance with sample collection near Orange and for permission to publish a photograph of a sample from the Lucknow Mine that came out of his personal collection. This study is supported by an Australian Post Graduate Award made available by Macquarie University.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1402-1.
Electronic supplementary material
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hendrickx, M. Naturally occurring asbestos in eastern Australia: a review of geological occurrence, disturbance and mesothelioma risk. Environ Geol 57, 909–926 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1370-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-008-1370-5