STRUCTURAL VARIATIONS IN CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS FIBERS REVEALED BY SYNCHROTRON X.RAY DIFFRACTION AND HIGH.RESOLUTION TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

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1 257 The Cndin Minerlogist Vol. 32, pp (1994) STRUCTURAL VARIATIONS IN CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS FIBERS REVEALED BY SYNCHROTRON X.RAY DIFFRACTION AND HIGH.RESOLUTION TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY BARBARAA. CRESSEY Deprtment of Geology, {Jniversity of Southmpton, Southmpton, SO9 snh, U.K: GORDONCRESSEY Deprtment of Minerlogy, Nnrl History Museum, Inndon, SW7 5BD, U.K ROBERTJ. CERNIK SERC Dresbury lbortory, Wrrington, WA4 4AD, U.K. ABSTRACT Four smples of chrysotile sbestos hve been studied by synchrotron X-ry diffrction. One of these smples exhibits symmetricl 00/ diffrction profiles, nd lso shows chrcteristics of "Povlen-type" chrysotile in X-ry fber photogrphs. The 001 pek symmetry is interpreted s indicting the presence of two lyer-spcings, one bout 7.3 A, in common with the other chrysotile smples, nd one bout 7.2 A. TEM imges of the chrysotile with two ppxent lyer-spcing show the presence of fibers with both curved nd flt lyers in vriety of disordered tubulr structffes hving only pproximte cylindricl symmetry. The flt lyers in these fibers my hve smller interlyer-spcin S Q.2 A) reltive to the curved lyerspcing (7.3 A; becuse of the possibility of incresed hydrogen bonding between flt lyers tht re stcked in register with one nother. In this smple, fibers with flt lyers prllel to one direction only, joined t ech end by curved lyers re observed to occur commonly. Also present re fibers with polygonl-tube cores mde up from flt lyers, with outer lyers tht re curved in more norml wy. This type of structure ppers to be the closest tht hs been observed to the lterntive structurl model proposed by Middleton & Whittker (1976) for'?ovlen-type" chrysotile. ln the sme specimen, cylindricl chrysotile fibers tht possess 5-fold symmetry hve been imged, in which the lyer stcking is pprently in register rdilly t 15 points round the circumference, rising from the &/3 repet of the hydroxyl lyer. Keywords: chrysotile, "Povlen-type" chrysotile, trnsmission electron microscopy, hydrogen bonds, symmetricl diffrctionpek. Sonnerc Qutre dchntillons de chrysotile ont fit l'objet d'une 6tude pr diffrction X vec un synchrotron comme source du ryonnement. Dns un de ces 6chntillons, qui possdde les trits de chrysotile de type '?ovlen" dns des clich6s de fibres, les profils de diffrction 001 sont sym6triques. L'sym6trie serit due I l pr6sence de deux espcements_ distincts entre les feuillets, un d'environ 7.3 A, en commun vec les utres 6chntillons de chrysotile, et l'utre d'environ7.2 A.I*s imges prises pr microscopie 6lectronique pr trnsmission montrent l pr6sence de fibres ynt d l fois des feuillets courbes et plts dns une vri6t6 de structures tubulires d6sordonn6es qui n'ont qu'pproximtivement l symdtrie cylindrique. Nous pensons que les feuillets plts dns ces fibres pounient voir un espcement inter-feuillet plus petit (7.2 A) que les feuillets courbes (7.3 A) d cuse de l possibilit6 ccrue de liisons hydrogdne entre les feuillets plts, empil6s en registre les uns sur les utres. Dns cet 6chntillon, les fibres ynt les feuillets plts prllbles b une seule direction etjoints ux deux bouts pr des couches courbes sont trbs r6pndus. Sont ussi pr6sents des fibres ynt un centre tubulirc polygonl A feuillets plts, vec des couches extemes courbes de l fgon plus cournte. Ce type de structure semble se rpprocher le plus du moddle structurl lterntif propos6 pr Middleton et Whittker en 1976 pour expliquer le chrysotile de type "Povlen". Dns le mome 6chntillon, des fibres cylindriques de chrysotile poss6dnt un xe de sym6trie 5 ont 6t6 photogrphi6s dns lesquels I'empilement des couches serit en registre de fgon rdiire i 15 points repbres utour de l circonf6rence, cons6quence de l pdriode b/3 de l couche des groupes hydroxyles. (Trduit pr l R6dction) Mots-cl6s: chrysotile, chrysotile de type '?ovlen", microscopie 6lectronique pr trnsmission, liison hydrogdne, pic de diffrction sym6trique.

2 258 TIIE CANADIAN MINERALOGIST lntroducrron methods. More exmples of similr polygonl fibers, nd more complex structures with flt lyers stcked The cylindricl structure of chrysotile ws first in sectors, hve been observed in subsequent TEM estblished by X-ry diffrction (Whitlker 1951, studies (Cressey 1979, Wei & Shoying 1984, Mellini 1952,1953,1.954,1955, b, c, d, 1956,b, c,1957). 1986, Yd & Wei 1987, Mitchell & Putnis 1988). The tubulr morphology of chrysotile ws imged by Other, irregulr structures involving curled lyers trnsmission electron microscopy (TEM) by vrious pssing lterlly into flt lyers hve been recorded, workers in the 1940s nd 1950s, but cler confirmtion tht the tubulr morphology is formed by cylin- Hutchison (1984). e.8., by Veblen & Buseck (1979) nd Cressey & dricl lttice ws provided by high-resolution TEM In this study, we show how modem high-resolution (Yd L967,1971). In his microgrphs, the 7.3 A diffrction nd imging techniques (synchrotron X-ry (002) lttice fringes show tht the sheets re curved s diffrction nd trnsmission electron microscopy) single or multiple spirls or s concentric cylinders. hve provided new evidence on the nture of curvedlyer nd flt-lyer structures in fibrous serpentines. [The fringes corresponding to individul lyers index s (002) becuse two-lyer cell (c = 14.6 A) is usully used for clinochrysotilel. Rdil 4.5 A (020) fringes E)cERMEl.rrAL lso were resolved; they re generlly not stright but zig-zg in direction, s dditionl unit cells re incorported round the circumference with incresing sbestos from the collection of the Nturl History We hve investigted four smples of chrysotile rdius of the curved lyers. Some of the microgrphs Museum (Tble 1) by X-ry diffrction using the lso show some unusul growth-hbits, with irregulrly shped fibers tht seem to hve grown in stges. Dresbury Lbortory, Wrrington, U.K. These Synchrotron Rdition Source (SRS) t the SERC X-ry nd electron diffrction ptterns produced by smples ll consist of bundles of fibers up to 4 cm splintery or lth-like vrieties of chrysotile, commonly long which, in hnd specimen, pper similr to mny known s "Povlen-type" chrysotile, exhibit dffierences other (silky) chrysotile fibers, except tht specimen from the ptterns produced by fibers of "norml" 8M1929,t974 is more splintery thn most. (silky) chrysotile (Eckhrdt 1956, Zussmn et l. Synchrotron X-rdition is tuneble to chosen 1957, Krstnovic & Pvlovic 1964,1967). These wvelength nd is delivered s monochromtic, pt0ernshow series of shrp i&/ reflections on i odd high-intensity, well-collimted, ner-prllel bem, lyer lines insted of, or superimposed on, the hk} nd thus instrumentl pek brodening is minimized. reflections with diffrrse tils chrcteristic of the cylindricl wrpping of the structurl lyers in chrysotile. peks tht re brodened becuse of the fine size of Consequently, lthough chrysotile specimens produce Middleton & Whittker (1976) studied diffrction the fibrils (generlly bout 150 A in dimeter;, resolution of the diffrction pttern is suffrciently good to ptterns produced by "Povlen-type" chrysotile in detil nd concluded tht the extr reflections resulted enble observtion of subtle structurl vritions in the from polygonl tubulr structure, possibly with diffrction profiles. core of norml, cylindricl chrysotile. An lterntive Bundles of sbestiform chrysotile fibers 2G-30 mm rrngement of polygonl core surrounded by cylindricl mteril lso ws proposed, but considered less horizontlly on the xis of the goniometer of Sttion long nd bout 0.5 mm in dimeter were mounted likely to occur. 9.1 of the SRS (Cernik& Bushnell-Wye 1991). With By using trnsmission electron microscopy, count time of I second per step nd step size of Cressey & Zussmn (1976) observed fibers ofpolygonl se4rentine of the kind postulted by Middleton & Debye-Sclerrer geometry from the sttionry bundles 0.01' 20, diffrction dt were recorded in Whittker. These polygonl fibers re composed of of fibers. In this orienttion of the cylindricl lttice, sectors of flt lyers rrnged to form polygonl only 001 nd 0ft0 reflections re observed. Thus prisms, either with or without core of cylindricl recorded, the X-ry diffrction pttern of one of the chrysotile. All the polygonl fibers observed in crosssection using TEM hve unusully lrge fiber di- chrysotile specimens (8M1929,1974) shows mrked meters (up to 2000 A) compred with norml chrysotile (generlly A in dimeter). "Povlen-type" diffrction effects lso hve been observed in single -chrysotile fibers of "norml dimeter" (up to 200 A) seen longitudinlly in the TEM TABTJ 1. SAMPLESOFCHRYSOULESTT]DIED (Middleton 1974),bt until now cross-sections of norml-dimeter'?ov1en-type" fibers hve never been EMLn9Jn4 Nil D spesdun -ine, Zvishvne, Znbbrye 8M1924,429 Duros' mino, Zvishpsle, Zimbbwe observed. This my be becuse of the difficulties E,!},[7r29,2fi Sherbc&, Western Austrlis involved in obtining thin, electron-trnsprent crosssections of fibers by ion-bem thinning or BMl974,l18 Cesit, Briti$ Cohmbi other

3 STRUCTURAL VARIATIONS IN CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS FIBERS 259 symmetry of 00/ peks. To investigte further the cylindricl cmer using CuK rdition) of the significnce of this unusul symmetry in the pek, we chrysotile smple with two pprent lyer-spcings hve exmined this specimen by high-resolution TEM. shows chrcteristics of oopovlen-type" chrysotile, l. e., Smples were vcuum-impregnted with epoxy resin, dditionl shrp reflections pper superimposed on nd then cross-sections of these fiber bundles were cut the diffuse til of the 130 reflection. The other smples nd prepred for TEM by ion-bem thinning. Thinned with single 00/ peks in their synchrotron X-ry diffrction ptterns (corresponding to lyer-spcing of smples were exmined in JEOL JEM 2000FX TEM, operting t n ccelerting voltge of 200 kv. pproximtely 7.3 A) hve fiber photogphs typicl of norml chrysotile. X-N,qy frffrqrpn Figure 2 shows the symmetricl diffrction profiles, pek profile fits nd their residuls for the 004, The 004 diffrction profiles from the four smples 0012 nd 0016 reflections, recorded from chrysotile of chrysotile recorded using synchrotron rdition re 8M1929,1974 us,ing synchrotron rdition. A pseudoshown in Figure 1. Clerly, one of these smples Voigt function ws used to model the peks. Clerly, (8M1929,1974) shows distinct symmetry of the two peks re required to fit the min pek nd the 004 pek. Anlysis of this profile, using pek deconvolution procedure, suggests tht two lyer-spcings centered bout vlues tht yield 7.3 I A nd 7.21 A for shoulderegion on the high-ngle side, nd these re (7.31 A nd7.2l A) my be present. Subsequently, the lyer-spcing dom nd 0016 profiles lso were recorded; these show The profile fitting in Figure 2 ws constrined by t}le sme slmmetry with befter resolution. This symmetry of 001 peks ws not observed in ptterns from provides simple interprettion in terms of two llowing only two peks to contibute to the fit; this ny ofthe other chrysotile smples. In ddition, conventionl X-ry photogrph (recorded on film in my be more complex, s vritions in distinct lyer-spcings. However, the rel sitution lyer-spcings 73L A hyer spcing 7.21, A lyer spcing 16.5 L7.A e(l:1.1019A) Frc. 1. Profiles of the 0M X-ry diffrction pek recorded from sttionry smples of chrysotile fibers using synchrotron rdition. (A) 8M1929,1974:. (B) 8M1929,429; (C) BM1974,118; (D) BM1929,250.

4 260 THE CANADIAN MINERALOGIST etI= A) zo()=1.1019a) 2o 1) = l.m3 A) Ftc. 2. Synchrotron X-ry diffrction profiles recorded from chrysotile 8M1929,1974, together with profile fits (solid lines) nd their residuls. In ech cse, two peks hve been used to fit the min pek nd the shoulder. Note the reltive decrese in the pek-height intensity of the shoulder with the incresing order of reflection. lntensities reltive to the 0M pek re indicted on the verticl scle. could occur, depending on the exct structure of the serpentine. Therefore, we lso hve performed fits with up to twelve peks with unconstrined widths. By fitting with multiple peks, it is pprentht the fine structure of the profiles cn be modeled in more detil, suggesting tht it my be pproprite to model these profiles with peks tht extend over rnge of d-vlues corresponding to lyer-spcings between 7.2 A nd 7.4 A. lt. is lso pprent tht greter spred of d-vlues conributes to the shoulder region thn to the min pek. Modelling with multiple peks still wits quntittive nlysis of pek positions nd their widths, nd further work on this is in progress. However, qulittive ssessment of reltive pekwidths cn be mde. It is evident tht the reltive pek-height of the shoulder component (representing the 7.21 A lyer-spcing) decreses lmost linerly with 1./d, nd this reduction in pek height is likely to integrl bredtl, nd 7 denotes the microstrin. We therefore drw the conclusion tht the serpeltine structure with the smller lyer-spcing (7.21 A) is significntly more sffined. As this chrysotile specimen is known to possess "Povlen-type" chrcteristics, it is likely tht curved nd flt lyer structures re present (Middleton & Whittker 1976, Cressey & Zussmn 1976). The observed strin-brodening is consistent with the hypothesis tht the structure of flt-lyer serpentine is more strined thn tht of curved-lyer structure. In chrysotile, structurl curvture enbles prtil compenstion for the misfit between the sheets of octhedr nd tetrhedr. Presumbly, no such compenstion occurs in flt-lyer serpentine, unless substntil Al3+ nd Fe3+ substitutions re present in the octhedrlly nd tetrhedrlly coordinted sites. Energy-dispersion X-ry nlysis of chrysotile be due to pek brodening. Both pek components 8M1929,1974 in the SEM indictes the presence of (7.31 A nd 7.21 A; in the profile re brod, owing to only 1.5 tntclo Fe nd negligible Al. Structure refinements by Mellini (1982) nd by Mellini & Znzzi the smll size of the crystllites, but size-brodening is independent of the order of reflection. However, (1987) show tht in lizrdite (flt lyers) the lyer of pek brodening tht rises from microstrin does tetrhedr is distor0ed to ditrigonl symmetry by rottion of tetrhedr to fcilitte incresed interlyer depend on the order of reflection, with pek bredth incresing s l/d increses. This hs been expressed hydrogen bonding, even though n undistorted hexgonl rrngement of the lyer of tetrhedr would by Lngford et l. (1988) s p = 4V124, where B is the be

5 STRUCTURAL VARIATIONS IN CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS FIBERS 261 more likely to reduce the intrlyer misfit strin with nd the unexpected 7.2I A lyer-spcings in the synchrotron XRD pttems, we hve sought explntions the lyer ofocthedr. Chisholrn (1992)hs discussed the effects of intrlyer nd interlyer strin on the for tfiese fetures by high-resolution TEM. Our TEM totl strin ssocited with curved nd flt lyers in observtions of cross-sections of these fibers revel serpentine; from this ssessment of strin, it cn be tubes mde up of curved nd flt lyers in disordered pprecited tht unless the fiber rdius of chrysotile is cylindricl structures, with only pproximte rottionl symmetry. We hve not, however, found ny lrge, either very smll or very lrge, curved structure is likely 10 possess less totl strin thn flt-lyer polygonl fibers with clerly defined boundries structure. There is, however, no cler indiction in between sectors of flt pltes, such s those seen published cell prmeters tht smples of lizrdite previously in specimens of "Povlen-type" chrysotile. generlly hve smller interlyer spcings thn Fibers tht most closely resemble the'?ovlen-type" smples of cbrysotile. chrysotile imges previously published hve cores of flt or gently curving lyers. Curved sheets lck Elrc"rnox MrcRoscopy smooth, continuous cylindricl curvture but re Hving seen fetures of '?ovlen-type" nnged with discontinuously curved sections which, chrysotile in like the flt sheets, form pproximtely polygonl single-crystl-type diffrction ptterns from specimen tubulr cores. Exmples re shown in Figure 3. The number 8M1929,1974, nd evidence of both 7.31 A lttice fringes re, unfortuntely, little fint becuse Frc. 3. TEM imge of chrysotile 8M1,929,1,97 4 with the bem prllel to the fiber xes, showing (002) lttice fringes. Note tht severl fibers hve polygonl cores mde up of flt lyers, with outer lyers tht re more smoothly curved,

6 262 TIIE CANADIAN MINERALOGIST Ftc. 4. Fiber sections recorded with the bem nerly prllel to the fiber xes. (A). These fibers hve elongte cross-sections with stright (002) lttice fringes prllel to the elongtion. (020) fringes re visible in curved sections of some fibers. (B). A fiber from (A) showing (002) nd (020) fringes in opposite qudrnts, both prllel to the plne contining the {iber xis nd the bem. (C). A fiber from (A) showing (002) nd (020) fringes tht re not in exctly opposite qudrnts, nd the two fringe sets re not prllel to one nother.

7 STRUCTTIRAL VARTATIONS IN CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS FIBERS 263 these fibers re in very thin re of the specimen. the ppernce of n ovl running trck. A typicl re Ion-bem thinning lwys produces dmged, morphous surfce-lyer. Adjcent to the edges of the holes shown in Figure 4. It is not possible to ccount for contining such elongte cross-sections of fibers is produced by ion-bem thinning, the very thin prts of such elongtion by ssuming tht the fiber xis is the specimen will therefore consist lmost entirely inclined to the electron bem; tilt of 60' would be of morphous mteril. The outer lyers of the fibers necessry to produce rtio of minor to mjor xis of in Figure 3 re prticulrly indistinct becuse they l:2, s is observed here. In ny cse, such tilt would hve lrgely become morphous, either during ionbem thinning or during exposure to the electron leve them on t}re curved ends, which is the opposite extinguish the (002) fringes on the long sides nd bem. Howevero the outer lyers, where visible, of wht we observe. pper to be curved in more norml wy. These In the re shown in Figure 4, (002) fringes (concentric or spirl) re generlly less cler round the structures seem to be the closest tht hve been observed to the lterntive model of tle structure proposed by Middleton & Whittker (1976) for "Povlen- suffer dmge under the electron bem less quickly curved prts of fiber sections. The flt lyers seem to type" chrysotile. We hve found them occurring only thn the curved prts. Commonly, (020) fringes (from very infrequently in the electron-trnsprent prts of center to circumference) re visible in the curved this specimen. sections insted. If there is slight mislignment of We hve, however, observed nother structure the fiber xis with respect to the electron bemn then involving flt nd curved sheets in fibrous hbit in the (020) nd (002) fringes would tend to persist in this specimen. In the thinned res exmined, it occurs lternte qudrnts, nd both sets of fringes would with firly high frequency. Fibers of this type consist be prllel to the plne contining the fiber xis nd of flt lyers prllel to one direction only, joined the bem. Generlly, this ppers to be the cse in coherently t ech end by curved lyers, resembling Figure 4 (e.9., Fig. 4B), where the xes of elongtion o02 F==r t >--e----e-r---c- - >-+-J-r-< t - -'- l- ' -- t t --.t I t -t- ' t -t- FIc. 5. A cylindricl rry of ltrice points (fter Whittker 1955b) joined in such wy s to representhe lnice fringes shown in Figure 48. Note, however, tht in Figure 4 the (002) fringes re mostly stright, not curved s here, becuse the fiber is ovl in cross-section. not circulr.

8 264 TIIE CANADIAN MINERALOGIST hppen to be roughly prllel to the plne contining the fiber xes nd the bem. It should be noted tht (020) fringes re not truly rdil, or they would diverge from the center with dditionl unit cells dded round the circumference s the rdius of the curved lyer increses, givitrg the zig-zg ppernce shown by Yd (1971). In Figure 4, the (020) fringes re generlly stright nd eqully spced over considerble res, to fir degree of pproximtion, though there re some deprtures. Whittker (1955b) used msk for opticl diffrction in which the dots lined up over considerble res. In Figure 5, section of Whittker's cylindricl msk is reproduced, with lttice points joined up in such wy s to resemble the distribution of (020) nd (002) fringes tht we observe. In Figure 4, some sections (e.g., Fig.4C) show cler (020) nd (002) fringes tht re not strictly in lternte qudrnts, nd (020) fringes re not prllel to (002) fringes. This suggests tht the position nd orienttion ofthe plnes where the points of the circulr (or distorted circulr) lttice line up with ech otler need not be in lternte qudrnts. It seems resonble tht they could esily be offset by up to 36o from the obvious positions, i.e.n the ngle between the cler (002) nd (020) fringes could be nything up to this ngle, nd not constnt from center to circumference, s ppers to be the cse in some of the fiber sectionshown here. Not ll fibers re elongte in cross-section with flt lyen. Some re elongte but consist of curved sheets with vrible rdii of curvture, prticulrly in the core regions, nd others re more nerly circulr in section. Multilyer spirls lso re found firly commonly. A few exmples re shown in Figure 6. Boundries between fibers commonly re indistinct, with spces between fibers filled by morphous or Ftc. 6. Fiber sections exhibiting vrious growth irregulrities, including vrible rdii of curvture nd multi-lyer spirls. 2[H

9 STRUCTI]RAL VARIATIONS IN CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS FIBERS 265 poorly crystlline mteril, or curved sheets. Centrl hs implictions concerning the nture of the interlyer bonding in this specimen, it is lso described voids in fibers re commonly filled with similr mteril, nd some fibers hve very irregulrly shped here. but continuous sheets in the core regions, which my Where fibers re exctly prllel to the bem, diffrction contrst mkes them pper completely drk. bridge the centrl holes. Whittker (1957) suggested tht such infilling would be likely, nd would explin With incresed exposure to the electron bem, the the observed mesurements of density. It is not drk contrst breks into rdil bnds, with the diffrction contrst being lost from the outside edge fust nd possible to know how much of the mteril with no pprent structure ws originlly morphous nd how extending towrd the center with time. Figure 7 shows much hs become so becuse of dmge in the electron bem or during specimen preprtion. culr in section. Drk diffrction-contrst remins exmples of this behvior. In this req fibers re cir- In prts of the specimen tht re thicker, combintion of strong diffrction-contrst nd degree of the fringes dispper s these res become mor- where (002) fringes re clerly visible nd fdes where dmge under the electron bem shows pttern tht phous under the bem. There re lmost lwys indictes the existence of five-fold symmetry. This 15 rdil bnds; the number 15 is significnt. As frst demonstrtion of five-fold symmetry in nfurl pointed out by Whittker (1954),2n d*, is pproximtely equl to 5b, so tht ifnvo successive lyers re crystlline mteril hs been reported elsewhere (Cressey& Whittker 1993). Becuse this observtion in step with one nother somewhere, then they will be ftc. 7. Sections of fiben with their xes exctly prllel to the bem. Strong diffrction-contrst. which initilly mde the fiber sections pper completely drk, hs broken into 15 rdil bnds fter period of exposure to tle electron bem hs cused some of the structure to become momhous.

10 266 TT{E CANADIAN MINERALOGIST..\... r i"'..f. ;.'\'...ot.. Ol r I O,.A.r oo l 7'o. to. ^v 'l6or oo^ t^. "oo "or in step five times round the circumference of the fiber. If ll the lyers re in step on rdil plne, then they re ll in step five times. In Figure 8, we reproduce Whittker's msk, mrking with open circles those lttice points tht line up rdilly. On the msk, the lining-up occurs ten times round the circumference becuse the lttice points re seputedby blt to llow for the effect of projection of the centered unit-cell down. [This is, of course, why we lwys observe (020) fringesl. If the structure were more susceptible to decomposition under the electron bem where the lyers re out of step, then one could produce n effect similr to tht in Figure 7, but with only five spokes. However, the hydroxyl side of the serpen llto looo ollro lo! oo l lf tt I.t' ---j O+O+ o.o.o ' FIo. 8. A cylindricl rry of lnice points (fter Whitrker 1955b), representing projection of ttre chrysotile lttice in cross-section. The points re sepxted cicumferentilly by b/2 to llow for the effect in projection of the centered unit-cell down, nd those mrked with open circles re rows of points tht exctly line up rdilly, ien tirnes in projection. Note tht lternte rows of open circles represent lnice points t height zero nd /2, so the overll symmetry is five-fold. Ticks with circumferentil spcing of l/3, to representhe repet of the hydroxyl side of the serpentine lyer, re shown for successive serpentine lyers in one of the five sectors. Solid lines represent the 15 rdil positions (rising from the bl3 repet of the hydroxyl groups) where locl sirnilrity of structure between the hydroxyl groups of one lyer nd the bsl oxygen toms of the next lyer outwrd could llow hydrogen bonding to occur between successive lyers, tine lyer hs repet of only bl3, so there is locl similrity of the rrngement of the bsl toms of oxygen of one lyer with respect to hydroxyl groups of the next inwrd 15 times per circumference. These 15 positions re mrked on the digrm in Figure 8. The res between these 15 spokes, where lyers re out of step nd so hydrogen bonding between lyers is not possible, could well produce 15 rdil bnds where decomposition under electron bombrdment tkes plce more redily, s seen in Figure 7. Chisholm (1.992) hs pointed out tlt polygonl serpentine lmost lwys hs 15 sectors (or, less commonly, 30), becuse miniml misfit occurs only for polygonl microstructures with 15 or 30 sectors,

11 STRUCTURAL VARTATIONS IN CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS FIBERS 267 depending on the exct cell dimensions of the flt comes from serpentinite tht hs undergone progrde lyers. A close inspection of Figure 7 suggests tht metmorphism fter the initil serpentiniztion. The possibly, in some fiber cross-sections, the (002) lyers polygonl fiber shown in Cressey & Zussmn re not smooth, continuous curves. In the bnds where (1976,Fig.4) ppers to hve overgrown erlierformed cylindricl fibers of chrysotile. A high- less decomposition hs occurred (i.e., those regions where successive lyers re probbly more nerly in resolution microgrph of nother polygonl fiber from step with one nother), the lyers my seem to be the sme specimen, shown in Figure 9, shows tht fltter. (Cre must be tken not to mistke confist lyers re mostly coherent cross sector boundries. reversls long lyer for discontinuities of curvture). Possibly, under the right geologicl conditions, core. the sheets seem to be somewht disordered in This microgrph lso shows tht in the cylindricl fibers such s these could recrystllize to form lrge, comprison with the outer, flt lyers. These observtions re in ccord with our proposed mechnism for well-developed polygonl fibers similr to ttrose seen in previous TEM studies, with 15 sectors, s discussed the formtion of polygonl fibers by recrystlliztion, by Chisholm. Such recrystlliztion would increse involving n djustment of the interlyer stcking the extent to which sheets could be stcked in register from disordered to more ordered rrngement. The with one nother. For lrge-rdius fibers, this would fiber section is not complete polygon, nd in the be much more stble mngement, s pointed out by missing prts where the sheets re not constrined, Chisholm (1992). they tend to curl. These curved sections hve smll The specimen in which Cressey & Zussmn (1976) rdii of curvture, similr to the norml, cylindricl originlly found high proportion of polygonl fibers fibers. 200 &: rs* Figure 94

12 268 THE CANADIAN MINERALOGIST Fto. 9. High-resolution TEM imge of polygonl serpentine fibeg specimen (see Cressey & Zussmn 1976). (A) The whole fiber section nd (B) enlrged deil from prt of (A), showing flt lyers pssing coherently cross sector boundries nd continuirg llerlly into curved sheets. Note lso the degree of disorder between lyers in curved sheets ner the fiber center. Where fiben re slightly tilted with respect to the electon bem, then the (020) nd (002) fringes tend to persist in lternte qudrnts, s described bove. Such degree of mislignment gives rise to four rdil drk bnds of diffrction contrsto replcing the complete drkness or mny (generlly 15) bnds seen where lignment of the fiber xis with the bem is more perfect. With slightly more mislignment, or greter dmge under the electron bem, or both, the (020) fringes tend to dispper, leving only the (002) fringes nd one pir of drk diffrction-contrst bnds t 180o. This pttern of diffrction-contrst behvior with tilt ws noted by Cressey & Zussmn (1976), though t tle time there ws no evidence to explin why it hppens. DIscussIoN From the split (00/) reflections observed in the synchrotron diffrction profile of specimen 8ML929,L974, two lyer-spcings pper to be present. One is 7.31 A, bout the vlue normlly found for chrysotile, nd the other is bout 7.21 A. Electron microscopy suggests tht the most obvious difference between this nd other chrysotile specimens is the presence of substntil numbers of fibers with flt lyers in this specimen. It ppers tht the flt lyen in mny of the fibers hve smller interlyer-spcing becuse of the hydrogen bonding developed between flt lyers tht re stcked in register with one nother. In cylindricl lyers of chrysotile, microgrphs such s

13 tht shown by Yd (l97l,fig. 14) illustrte fiben in which lyers re stcked completely rndomly, out of register with one nother. In the cylindricl fibers shown in this pper, the lyer stcking is pprently in register t fifteen points round the circumference, but t ll other positions the lyers must be stcked out of register with one nother. In cylindricl fibers, therefore, hydrogen bonding between lyers is not generlly possible. Published vlues for the lyerspcings of chrysotile nd lizrdite, the flt-lyer vriety of serpentine, suggest tht there is rnge of vlues from little bove 7.2 A le.s., A for " lizrdite reported by Mellini (1982)l to over 7.3 A. However, there is no cler pttern of lizrdite tending towrd the lower vlue nd chrysotile the higher. Lizrdite commonly hs significnt degree of disorder in its structure, nd commonly contins more AI nd Fe thn chrysotile. When we study ion-thinned specimens by TEM, it is inevitble tht we cn only imge tiny proportion of the mteril in ny specimen. This is especilly true for sections of sbestos fibers embedded in resin; the vst mjority of the res thinned to electron trnsprency consist of the resin. Therefore, we cn never STRUCTT.JRAL VARTATIONS IN CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS FIBERS 269 be sure of the extent to which our TEM observtions re representtive of the whole specimen. X-ry diffrction, however, gives us informtion verged over much lrger volume. We cnnot sy with confidence tht in specimen 8M1929,1974, the proportion of flt lyers reltive to curved lyers seen in the TEM corresponds with the rtio of 7.21 A to 7.31 A lyerspcing detected by X-ry diffrction, but the com- serpentine. Cn. Minerl. 30, CrilsHou\4, l.e. (1992): The number of sectors in polygonl prison seems resonble, s fr s we cn judge. It would be interesting to crry out synchrotron X-ry Cnssssv, B.A. (1979): Electron microscopy of serpentinite diffrction experiments on fiber bundles consisting textures. Cn. Minerl. 17, 74l-756. entirely of well-formed polygonl serpentine if sufficiently lrge bundles of long, prllel fibers could be & HrncilsoN, J.L. (1984): Microstructure of ntigorite reveled by high resolution electron microscopy. found. Inst. Pltys. Conf., Ser. 68, In specimen 8M1929,1974, the elongte-sectioned fibers tend to be ligned with the xes of elongtion ll & Wnrrrrsn, E.J.W. (1993): Five-fold symmetry in roughly the sme direction. Possibly these fibers in chrysotile sbestos reveled by unsmission electron suffered directionl pressure during growth, or lter microscopy. Minerl. Mg. 57, deformtion while still in the host rock. The possibility of deformtion during specimen preprtion & ZussrrN, J. (1976): Electron microscopic studies must be considered, but it seems more likely tht such of serpentinites. Cn. Minerl. 14,307'3I3. processes would cuse brittle frcture rther thn plstic deformtion. We hve seen no evidence of ECKHARDT, F.-J. (1956): Rd,ntgenogrphische Untersuchungen m Schweizerit. Neues Jhrb. Minerl' broken fibers. Moruttsh,3243. Our findings show, yet gin, tht the serpentine group of minerls cn form in numerous complex structurl rrngements tht my seem difficult to clssify. Imging by high-resolution TEM shows tht, on fine scle, the structtues commonly consist of mixtures or intermedite forms. Lyers commonly pss coherently from one structure type to nother over few unit cells. Nevertheless, ll the observed vritions cn be described s consisting of components of the three known structure types: cylindricl chrysotile, flt-lyer lizrdite or lternting-wve ntigorite. A single fiber my therefore consist of both chrysotile nd lizrdite. Trnsitions from one structure type to nother occur s the best solution to the pr-blems cused by interlyer nd intrlyer sgin.t ihe time of crystlliztion (or recrystlliztion) in response to the locl physicochemicl conditions ffecting ech group of toms. Most serpentinites hve been formed under disequilibrium conditions, so perhps it should not seem surprising to find tht io -ny composite or intermedite structures exist. ACIC.IOWI.EDGEIVIEI.ITS We thnk Dr. Eric Whittker nd Prof. Jck Zussmn for helpful comments on our observtions, kindly shring with us their considerble wisdom nd experience of the serpentine minerls. The referees re lso thnked for their comments nd suggestions. Mr. Tony Wighton, Nturl History Museum, is thnked for producing excellent-qulify demountble polished thin sections of chrysotile. We cknowledge funding by SERC glnt to crry out the synchrotron X-ry diffrction experiments. REFERENCES CERNIK, R.J. & BusuNrLL-WYE, G. (1991): The use of Debye-Scherrer geometry for high resolution powder diffrctton. Mter. Sci. ForurnT9'\z' KnsreNovtd, I. & PAvLovlC, S. (1964): X-ry study of chrysotile. Ant Minerl. 49, & - (1967): X-ry study of sixjyer orthoserpentine. Am. Minerl 52, LeNcrono, J.I., Dnlusz, R., pr KstrsnR' T.H. & MttrnvrEunn, E.J. (1988): Profile nlysis for microcrystlline properties by the Fourier nd other methods. Azst J. Phys.4l,

14 270 THE CANADIAN MINERAIOGIST MELLINTT, M. (1982): The crystl structure of lizrdite lt: hydrogen bonds nd polytypism. Am. Minerl. 67, (1986): Chrysotile nd polygonl serpenrine from the Blngero serpentinite. M inerl. Mg. 50, & Zyezzt, P.-F. (1987): Crystl structures of lizrdite-lt ndlizrdite-2hi from Coli. Itlv. An. Minerl. 72, MIDDLEToN, A.P. (1974): Crystllogrphic nd Minerlogicl Aspects of Serpentine. D.Phil. thesis, Oxford Univ., Oxford, U.K. & Wurrrerrn, E.J.W. (1976): The structure of Povlen-type chrysotite. Cn. Minerl. 14, Mncurl4 R.H. & Punrs, A. (1988): Polygonl serpentine in segregtion-textured kimberlite. Cn. Minerl. 26, VEBLEN, D.R. & Busncr<, P.R. (1979): Serpentine rninerls: intergtowths nd new combintion stmctures. Science Wst, L. & SueovrNc, J. (1984): The discovery of Povlentype hydroxyl-chrysotile nd its minerlogy. Act Minerl. Sinic2. I ll-l16. WHrrrrcn, E.J.W. (1951): An orthorhombic vriety of chrysotile. Acl Crystllogr. 4, (1952): The unir cell of chrysotile. Acr C rystllogr. 5, , (1953): The structure of chrysotile. Acr Crystllogr. 6, i 48. (1955b): The diffrction ofx-rys by cylindricl l^ttice. m. Act Crystllogr. 8, (1955c): The diffrction of X-rys by cylindricl l^ttice. IV. Act Crystllogr. 8, (1955d): The clssifiction of cylindricl lttices. Act C ry stllogr. 8, _ (1956): The structure of chrysotile. II. Clinochry sotile. Act C rystllo gr. 9, (1956b): The structure of chrysotile. III. Orthochry sotile. Act Crystllogr. 9, , (1956c): The structure of chrysotile. IV. Prchrysotile. Acr Crystllogr. 9, (1957): The structure of chrysotile. V. Diffuse reflections nd fibre textlure. Act Crystllogr. 10, Yoe, K. (1967): Study of chrysotile sbestos by high resolution electron microscope. Act Crystllogr. 23, (1971): Study of microstructure of chrysotile sbestos by high resolution electron microscopy. Acr C ry sr I I ogr. M & Wr, L. (1987): Polygonl microstructures of Povlen chrysotile observed by high resolution electron microscopy. Eurocly 87 (Sevill, Spin), Abst. ZussMAN, J., BnrNnrsv, G.W. & Cousn, J.J. (1957): Electron diffrction studies of serpentine minerls. Am. Minerl. 42, (1954): The diffrction of X-rys by cylindricl Ittice.I. Act Crystllogr. 7, (1955): The diffrction ofx-rys by cylindricl ltt\ce. II. Act C rystllo g r. 8, Received Apil 7, 1993, revised mnuscript ccepted Augu.st