Serpentine is also known for its translucent diaphaneity, waxy luster, ease of being cut into shapes, and its ability to accept a polish. These properties make it a popular gemstone, architectural material, and ornamental stone.
Remove the graticule from the microscope and measure its actual grid length, AL (mm). This can be accomplished by using a mechanical stage fitted with verniers, or a jeweler's loupe with a direct reading scale.
Gemstone-quality serpentine is easy to polish, and beautiful finishes are possible. However, it usually polishes to a waxy luster rather than the brilliant glassy luster of much harder materials such as agate, jasper, and faceted stones. Rockhounds who polish their first piece of serpentine and know this have their expectations calibrated in advance. The waxy luster is a beautiful and common characteristic of the material. It does not reflect the skill of the operator. Extra polishing time and effort will still produce a waxy luster.
5.3.2. Secure and handle the samples in such that they will not rattle during shipment nor be exposed to static electricity. Do not ship samples in expanded polystyrene peanuts, vermiculite, paper shreds, or excelsior. Tape sample cassettes to sheet bubbles and place in a container that will cushion the samples in such a manner that they will not rattle.
Asbestos fibers are formed by the gradual growth of mineral crystals in cracks, or veins, found in soft rock formations. The crystals grow across the vein, and the width of the vein determines the resulting asbestos fiber length. Because the minerals come from the surrounding rock, the chemical composition of the fibers is similar to the rock. As a result the asbestos must be separated from the rocky ore using physical methods, rather than the chemical methods sometimes used to process other ores.
The commercial production of amosite, or “brown” asbestos, ended within the last decade and this type of asbestos is no longer mined. It was at one time, however, the second-most commonly used form of asbestos and, as a result, many individuals were exposed to it during its peak use. Amosite was employed as insulation in factories and buildings, as well as both an acoustical and anti-condensation material. Its use has been banned in most countries for approximately the last 30 years.
To prepare platinized asbestos with high platinum contents (5-10%), the asbestos mass is saturated with a chloroplatinic acid solution. The mass is made slightly alkaline by treating it with diluted solution of sodium hydroxide, and the chloride is then reduced to fine, particulate Pt with sodium formate. The reduction is best carried out in a muffle furnace at about 300-400°C. Finally the asbestos is freed of alkali salts by thorough washing with cold water and is dried in a muffle furance. At this point the asbestos should be light gray.
Serpentine sculptures range in size from under one centimeter to several meters in height. Bowls, vases, desk sets, clock bases, animals, fruit, flowers, legendary figures, deities, busts, and statues are all common objects made by artists working with serpentine.
Asbestos is a commercial term that includes six regulated asbestiform silicate (silicon + oxygen) minerals. Because this group of silicate minerals can be readily separated into thin, strong fibers that are flexible, heat resistant, and chemically inert, asbestos minerals were once used in a wide variety of products. However, due to adverse health effects, the use of asbestos in the U.S. has been significantly decreased. In 2013, for example, the total amount used was only 950 tons, all of which was chrysotile, and was mined in Brazil. Many other countries still mine and use asbestos in insulation products due to less stringent health and safety regulations.
Serpentine minerals have a sheet or layered structure. Chrysotile is the only asbestos mineral in the serpentine group. In the United States, chrysotile has been the most commonly used type of asbestos. According to the U.S. EPA Asbestos Building Inspectors Manual, chrysotile accounts for approximately 95% of asbestos found in buildings in the United States. Chrysotile is often present in a wide variety of products and materials, including:
Project Overview The Formula 1® Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually in Melbourne, Australia. The circuit length is 5.303km with the drivers racing over 58 laps. The Melbourne track is situated around Albert Park Lake, only a few kilometres South of central Melbourne. In spite of the circuit being on public roads, the characteristics of the natural road are considered by many competitors to being fast and flowing, with extensive runoff in many corners. McMahon Services Events were engaged by the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) and secured the contract from 2017 – 2021. Scope of Work The contract involves the supply, mobilisation, build, dismantle and demobilisation of five grandstands. The five grandstands totalling 13,109 seats and with four of the grandstands: Fangio – 5,283 seats Prost – 3,526 seats Senna – 1,176 seats and; Schumacher – 2,702 seats All seating was completed with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation modular roof covering. McMahon Services also provides 422 seats for the Waite stand, which was a variation to the contract with a tight timeframe. Mobilisation to site commenced mid-January each year, nine weeks prior to event commencement which was on 26th March in 2017. Early stages of the works are delivered by a team of seven, which ramps up to 18 personnel at the peak of the project. Fangio was the first grandstand to be built, taking approximately three weeks to build the majority of the under structure and top deck, before work commenced on the Schumacher grandstand followed by Senna and Prost. The roofs for each stand were installed periodically between weeks 4 – 8. The final build for Prost and the finalisation of the other grandstands took place in the last two weeks of the schedule. In 2017, one-week prior to event commencement, the McMahon Services team secured a variation for the erection of the Waite Grandstand. This was awarded on the basis of our quick turnaround time on the other four stands, being completed on 22nd March, four days prior to event start. In addition to the main contract, the team were also contracted to liaise and facilitate the modifications and repair work the existing Australian Grand Prix Corporation owned modular roof coverings. This included the engagement of a steelworks contractor and a roof skin manufacturer and repairer. Innovations Working at heights was a key risk for this project, therefore a Fall from Heights Management Plan was developed and implemented specifically for the 2017 project and to assist with future projects. The team developed a plan based on the ‘worst case scenario’, where they tested how long it would take for a team member who was at an opposite end of a grandstand in an elevated work platform or telehandler that was fully loaded to reach an injured team member. The team tested three different situations and calculated the time it would take for another team member to assist the injured person. Work practices were then modified and enacted to ensure minimal ‘reach’ times were achieved. Delivery Performance For the 2017 event, a total of 26 ten-hour days were utilised to erect and dismantle the grandstands, with two to three semi-trailer loading and transporting the grandstand infrastructure to and from site. The project peaked at 18 personnel. Inclement weather hindered the demobilisation works, resulting in a delay of five days before the final load out of trucks was completed on 3rd May. 70% of this event was self-delivered and totalled 10,921 workhours from commencement to completion. Over 16,000 work hours were achieved without incurring a single Lost Time Injury or Medical Treatment Injury. Due to the success of this project, McMahon Services Events division secured the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island, also with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation. “All final deadlines were comfortably met to a great standard. Especially Waite Grandstand which was awarded to McMahon Services at extremely late notice” – Sanel Cevro