Document D6oaJdG5Gpmgjo3yB1Z9mZ9O

(zJ I MERYS T a lc ^ uEuXnHtIBTfITf ? c a m -354 ------------ Imerys Talc 1 8051 E. Maplewood Ave Greenwood Village, CO 80111 (303) 713-5000 Fax: (303) 713-5770 TECHNICAL REPORT Project No. A11511 Date: 11-Nov-11 To: From: Analyst(s): Copy: John Poston Carol Slowik C. Slowik J. Pier, S. Sharma, G. Myers Title: TEM ASBESTOS ANALYSIS OF GUANGXI #2 POST-SHIPMENT SAMPLE MV Prabhu Puni Barge AEP402 Request: One sample, representing a post-shipment sample of Guangxi #2 ore milled at Houston was submitted to the Technical Center for asbestos analysis by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This analysis is in partial fulfillment of Imerys' Fiber Management Framework Program Results: The attached TEM results were obtained using the current ASTM draft method "Standard test method for indirect analysis of talc by transmission electron microscopy for asbestos mass concentration." This method is currently being developed by ASTM committee D22.07 (Sampling and Analysis of Asbestos) and is a modification of ASTM method D 5756 "Standard test method for microvacuum sampling and indirect analysis of dust by transmission electron microscopy for asbestos mass surface loading." The modification is to adapt existing methodology to the specific analysis of talc products and/or ore samples. A program of laboratory "blank" analysis is in place and has been used to determine the detection limit for this analysis according to ASTM method D 6620, "Standard practice for asbestos detection limit based on counts." Page 1 of 5 ITA-Ratcliff-000343 Table 1. Result Summary Sample Description Sample No. Guangxi #2 composite MV Prabhu Puni A 1 1 5 1 1 -1 AMPHIBOLE Number of Fiber Structures Concentration >5 urn <5 um ppm 00 BDL CHRYSC Number of Structures >5 um <5 um 00 BDL = Below detection limit, as defined by ASTM D 6620 ITA-Ratcliff-000344 )TILE_________ Asbestos Concentration EEm____ BDL ITA-Ratcliff-000345 Table 2. Analysis parameters Sample Description Sample No. Guangxi #2 composite MV Prabhu Puni A 1 1 5 1 1 -1 Starting Weight g 0.2450 Aliquot Filtered mL 0.2 Grid Spaces Analyzed # 10 Total Sample Analyzed ng 47.2 *Analytical Sensitivity is defined by ASTM D 5756 as the detection of one structure with minimum dimer ITA-Ratcliff-000346 AMPH BOLE CHRYSOTILE Analytical Detection Analytical Detection Sensitivity* Limit Sensitivity* Limit ppm ppm ppm ppm 0.020 0.13 0.013 0.09 nsions. ITA-Ratcliff-000347 rf/IMERYS Talc Imerys Talc 8051 E. Maplewood Ave Greenwood Village, CO 80111 (303) 713-5000 Fax: (303) 713-5770 CONFIDENTIAL ORE ANALYSIS REPORT Date: To: Reported by: Copy: November 11, 2011 I Jennie Sulik J. Poston, S. Wulf Results: The following composite ore sample, representing the MV "Prabhu Puni Barge AEP4020 Gaungxi #2 shipment to Houston was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) for the presence of amphibole minerals and quartz. The sample was also analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for the presence of asbestiform minerals. The requested tests are in partial fulfillment of specifications required by Analytical Lab Code: Specification: Initial Ore Results - After Grinding (1B) 3.14 Percent Fibrous Amphibole (CTFA J4-1) Part A (X-ray Diffraction): Part B (Optical Microscopy): 3.15 Percent Free Crystalline Silica Quartz (CTFA Method J6-1) (X-Ray Diffraction) TEM Results - After Grinding (1C) 3.16 Asbestos by Transmission Electron Microscope (TM 7024) Guangxi #2 Composite MV Prabhu Puni Barge AEP4020 A11511-1 None detected Not required 0.2% (Passes Test) None detected ITA-Ratcliff-000348 IMERYS T a lc Imerys Talc 1 8051 E. Maplewood Ave Greenwood Village, CO 80111 (303) 713-5000 Fax: (303) 713-5770 TECHNICAL REPORT Project No. A11528 Date: 7-Dec-11 To: From: Analyst(s): Copy: John Poston Carol Slowik C. Slowik J. Pier, S. Sharma, G. Myers Title: TEM ASBESTOS ANALYSIS OF GUANGXI #2 POST-SHIPMENT SAMPLE MV. Prabhu Puni, Barges ING7515, T13726, T13931 Request: One sample, representing a post-shipment sample of Guangxi #2 ore milled at Houston was submitted to the Technical Center for asbestos analysis by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This analysis is in partial fulfillment of Imerys' Fiber Management Framework Program Results: The attached TEM results were obtained using the current ASTM draft method "Standard test method for indirect analysis of talc by transmission electron microscopy for asbestos mass concentration." This method is currently being developed by ASTM committee D22.07 (Sampling and Analysis of Asbestos) and is a modification of ASTM method D 5756 "Standard test method for microvacuum sampling and indirect analysis of dust by transmission electron microscopy for asbestos mass surface loading." The modification is to adapt existing methodology to the specific analysis of talc products and/or ore samples. A program of laboratory "blank" analysis is in place and has been used to determine the detection limit for this analysis according to ASTM method D 6620, "Standard practice for asbestos detection limit based on counts." Page 1 of 3 ITA-Ratcliff-000349 A11528 TEM Analysis Results Table 1. Result Summary AMPHIBOLE Sample Description Sample No. Number of Structures Fiber Concentration Guangxi #2 RM composite MV. Prabhu Puni, Barges ING7515, T13726, T13931 A 1 1 5 2 8 -1 >5 um <5 um 00 ppm BDL CHRYSOTILE Number of Structures Asbestos Concentration >5 um <5 um ppm 00 BDL BDL = Below detection limit, as defined by ASTM D 6620 Page 2 of 3 ITA-Ratcliff-000350 Table 2. Analysis parameters Sample Description Sample No. Guangxi #2 RM composite MV. Prabhu Puni, Barges ING7515, T13726, T13931 A 11528-1 A11528 TEM Analysis Parameters Starting Weight g Aliquot Filtered mL Grid Spaces Analyzed # Total Sample Analyzed ng AMPHIBOLE CHRYSOTILE Analytical Detection Analytical Detection Sensitivity* Limit Sensitivity* Limit ppm ppm ppm ppm 0.2570 0.3 10 74.2 0.013 0.08 0.008 0.06 *Analytical Sensitivity is defined by ASTM D 5756 as the detection of one structure with minimum dimensions. Page 3 of 3 ITA-Ratcliff-000351