Document JJn7M2Z02v7w6VNpx2MVOX6a2

14256997033 2002-02-26 19:09:21 (GMT), page 18 17 demonstrate why they are wrong, we will briefly describe the mining process and the route tremolite travels to get into the final product. In fact the mining and milling process adds tremotite to the chrysotile. The process is as follows: 1. Chrysotile is about 5% of the deposit. It forms in layers or sheets between serpentine rocks. Tremolite (or crocidolite, see below) is present in the serpentine rock alongside the 100% pure chrysotile veins. The serpentine rock containing both tremolite and chrysotile is crushed in rock crushers. This is repeated 3 times. The rock is left to dry for 48 hours after the first crushing. This releases the tremolite from the serpentine and it is mixed in with the chrysotile. 2. All fibers on the belt, including the released tremolite and crocidolite, are vacuumed and carried into the mill. The system is closed to fiber from this point forward. Once a fiber enters the system it leaves in a bag labeled "chrysotile." So the end product is contaminated with tremolite and crocidolite. 3. The fiber is transported to the sorting mill. The sorting mill then separates the fiber by size. This is a two-part process. The fiber is shaken and rocked from side to side on a "sifter." It moves down the sifter at an angle. A 5 foot long by 2 inch wide cyclone at the end ofthe sifter vacuums the fiber into a tube and it is air carried to the bagging area. This is how sizing is achieved. The suction is set to pull short fibers, of all chemical compositions, off first. The remaining longer fibers are dropped onto another conveyer and the process is repeated until the longest fibers are cyclone vacuumed off. It is clear that the tremolite is sized along with the chrysotile. 17