Talc

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Image:Talc block.jpg Image:Talcum Powder.JPEG Talc is a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate with the chemical formula H₂Mg₃(SiO₃)₄ or Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂. It occurs as foliated to fibrous masses, its monoclinic crystals being so rare as to be almost unknown. It has a perfect basal cleavage, and the folia are non-elastic, although slightly flexible. It is sectile and very soft, with a hardness of 1 (Talc is the softest of the Mohs' scale of mineral hardness). It has a specific gravity of 2.5–2.8, a waxlike or pearly luster, and is translucent to opaque. Its colour ranges from white to gray or green and it has a distinctly greasy feel. Its streak is white.

1 Formation
2 Occurrence
3 Uses
4 Safety
5 See also
6 References

[edit] Formation

Talc is a metamorphic mineral resulting from the metamorphism of magnesian minerals such as pyroxene, amphibole, olivine and other similar minerals in the presence of carbon dioxide and water. This is known as talc carbonation and produces a suite of rocks known as talc carbonates.

Talc is primarily formed via carbonation of serpentine, via the following reaction;

Serpentine + Carbon Dioxide → Talc + Magnesite + Water

Talc can also be formed via a reaction between dolomite and silica, which is typical of skarnification of dolomites via silica flooding in contact metamorphic aureoles;

Dolomite + Silica + Water → Talc + Calcite + Carbon Dioxide

Talc can also be formed from magnesian chlorite and quartz in blueschist and eclogite metamorphism via the following reaction:

Chlorite + Quartz → Kyanite + Talc + H₂O

In this reaction, the ratio of talc and kyanite is dependant on aluminium content with more aluminous rocks favoring production of kyanite. This is typically associated with high-pressure low-temperature minerals such as phengite, garnet, glaucophane within the lower blueschist facies. Such rocks are typically white, friable and fibrous and are known as whiteschist.

[edit] Occurrence

Talc is a very common metamorphic mineral in metamorphic belts which contain ultramafic rocks and within whiteschist and blueschist metamorphic terranes. Prime examples of whiteschists include the Franciscan Metamorphic Belt of the western United States, the western European Alps especially in Italy, certain areas of the Musgrave Block, and some collisional orogens such as the Himalayas.

Talc carbonated ultramafics are typical of many areas of the Archaean cratons, notably the komatiite belts of the Yilgarn Craton in Western Australia. Talc-carbonate ultramafics are also known from the Lachlan Fold Belt, eastern Australia, from Brazil, the Guyana Shield, and from the ophiolite belts of Turkey, Oman and the Middle East.

Notable economic talc occurrences include the Mount Seabrook talc mine, Western Australia, formed upon a polydeformed layered ultramafic intrusion.

[edit] Uses

A coarse grayish-green talc has been called soapstone or steatite and has been used for stoves, sinks, electrical switchboards, etc. Talc finds use as a cosmetic (talcum powder), as a lubricant, and as a filler in paper manufacture. Talc is used in baby powder, an astringent powder used for preventing rashes on the area covered by a diaper (see diaper rash). Most tailor's chalk is talc, as is the chalk often used for welding or metalworking.

The origin of the name derives from the Persian via Arabic talq.

Talc is also used as food additive or in pharmaceutical products. In the European Community the additive number is E553b.

Talcum powder has also become widely used as a stretching substance for marijuana. The harvested buds are mixed with the talcum powder so it sticks to the resin. This is done to increase the weight as well as to make it look more potent. The dried resin itself has a similar crystal-like appearance. Marihuana stretched with talcum poses several health threats, short-term damage (pneumonia) and possibly even long-term damage (lung tissue granuloma) caused by inhaling the talcum vapors^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] Safety

Several studies have established preliminary links between talc and pulmonary issues,<ref> Hollinger (1990). "Pulmonary toxicity of inhaled and intravenous talc.". </ref> lung cancer,<ref> National Toxicology Program (1993). "NTP Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Talc (Non-Asbestiform) in Rats and Mice (Inhalation Studies).". </ref><ref> NIOSH Worker Notification Program. "Health effects of mining and milling talc.".(historical) </ref> skin cancer and ovarian cancer.<ref> Harlow, Cramer, Bell, et al. (1992). "Perineal exposure to talc and ovarian cancer risk.". </ref> This is a major concern considering talc's widespread commercial and household use. However, no conclusive study has yet been made to determine either the toxicity and/or carcinogenic nature of talc and the long history of safe use suggests that these concerns are unfounded.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers non-asbestiform talc, that is talc which does not contain potentially carcinogenic asbestiform amphibole fibers, to be Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for use in cosmetics.