How do I identify Balangeroite?

Balangeroite can be identified by its Brown color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Balangeroite?

Balangeroite typically appears in Brown. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

Balangeroite

A variety of Minerals

What is Balangeroite?

Balangeroite is found in one of the most important chrysotile mines in Europe, the Balangero Serpentinite. Hence, it is usually mistaken as an asbestiform in an assemblage of other mineral phases like chrysotile, magnetite and Fe-Ni alloys. However, Balangeroite does not lead to serious health problems caused by asbestos fibers.

Balangeroite Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Balangeroite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.

Balangeroite Localities Map

See where Balangeroite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

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North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Characteristics of Balangeroite

Balangeroite can develop as loose fibers or compact when in large volumes which can be prismatic. Antigorite flakes are included in relict prismatic balangeroite, while transmission electron microscopy observation shows that fibrous balangeroite is partially replaced by chrysotile. The fibers run a couple of centimeters in the [001].

Formation of Balangeroite

The piemonte zone, remnant of the Piemontese Ocean from the Late Jurassic, is home to the majority of the serpentines of the Western Alps. The Balangero mine is located in the Lanzu Ultramafic Massif which is in the inner part of the piemonte zone. The Lanzu Ultramafic Massif is believed to have been involved in the subduction processes that were affiliated with the closure of the Piemontese Ocean in the late Jurassic. The earliest generation of metamorphic veins and in particular type 1 Vein that constitute relict prismatic balangeroite (often includes antigorite flakes) were formed during prograde high pressure metamorphism. Fibrous balangeroite is limited to the serpentine-infested rim of the northern Lanzu Ultramafic Massif, with its abundance in the inactive Balangero asbestos mine, where it was discovered. Balangeroite was named after the location in which it was discovered. Mine workers at the Balangero mine had first discovered it and named it, based on its overall color and fibrous nature of other minerals present in the mine, xylotile or metaxite. This new mineral, balangeroite, was tested and found to be completely different from xylotile and metaxite in composition as well as optical properties. Balangeroite was already discovered and a somewhat pure specimen was in the Turin University Mineralogy institute's museum since 1925, inventory no. 14873, labeled as "fibrous serpentine (asbestos)- San Vittore, Balangero".

Composition of Balangeroite

The chemical formula for balangeroite is (Mg, Fe, Fe, Mn)42Si16O54(OH)40 and it has been calculated as shown in the diagram below by Compagnoni as follows: Wet chemical, X-ray fluorescence and electron microprobe analyses were used to deduce the composition of balangeroite. The common intergrowth with chrysotile proved to be valuable in providing better chemical resolution as portrayed in table 1. The results varied due to submicroscopic intergrowths or zoning. From the wet chemical analysis, there was 9.5% average weight loss after calcination at 1000 °C, due to the presence of water. This was calculated as the difference from 100% of microprobe results, with the assumption that large quantities of material usually contain some impurities, and the possible oxidation of Fe under heating. A ratio of Fe/Fe = 2.12 was obtained and on the basis of the known volume and density, the empirical formula for the unit cell was derived (Mg 25.70 Fe7.69 Fe3.63 Mn1.65 Al0.17 Ca0.07 Cr0.01 Ti0.01) total= 38.93 Si15.38O53.66(OH)35.92.