Asbestos in Taconite Mining
Taconite is a very hard rock that is found in several different regions across the United States, especially Minnesota.
It is a sedimentary rock that is layered with quartz, carbonate, and other materials, including iron.
In fact, taconite consists of over 15% iron, which now makes it appealing to mining companies and steel manufacturers.
However, scientists are investigating taconite due to the presence of fibrous materials like asbestos.
Once, the hard taconite rock was considered waste in the pursuit of iron ore.
However, with the high-grade iron ore sources becoming depleted, it is now financially viable to extract iron from taconite.
There are several different steps that plants use to turn taconite into iron:
However, researchers are not yet sure whether the taconite itself contains asbestos or if there are other steps of the mining process that expose people to dangerous asbestos fibers.
Taconite mining and processing once used asbestos fibers, and there are also asbestos-like fibers present in the taconite itself.
The blasting, crushing, and grinding parts of iron ore production can release these fibers into the atmosphere, where they can be inhaled or ingested.
In fact, mesothelioma cases in the Iron Range of Minnesota occur at twice the normal rate.
Asbestos is a human carcinogen that causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and gastrointestinal cancers.
If you think that you have been exposed to asbestos through taconite mining or other processes, you should seek more information regarding your health risks and other dangers.
For more information, please visit the Mesothelioma Resource Center today.
It is a sedimentary rock that is layered with quartz, carbonate, and other materials, including iron.
In fact, taconite consists of over 15% iron, which now makes it appealing to mining companies and steel manufacturers.
However, scientists are investigating taconite due to the presence of fibrous materials like asbestos.
Once, the hard taconite rock was considered waste in the pursuit of iron ore.
However, with the high-grade iron ore sources becoming depleted, it is now financially viable to extract iron from taconite.
There are several different steps that plants use to turn taconite into iron:
- Blast the taconite into small pieces
- Transport it to the processing plant
- Crush and grind the taconite until it is powdery
- Use magnets to pick up iron from the taconite powder
- Get rid of extra rock fragments that did not contain iron
- Roll the iron and taconite powder into pellets
- Ship the pellets to steel mills for steel production
However, researchers are not yet sure whether the taconite itself contains asbestos or if there are other steps of the mining process that expose people to dangerous asbestos fibers.
Taconite mining and processing once used asbestos fibers, and there are also asbestos-like fibers present in the taconite itself.
The blasting, crushing, and grinding parts of iron ore production can release these fibers into the atmosphere, where they can be inhaled or ingested.
In fact, mesothelioma cases in the Iron Range of Minnesota occur at twice the normal rate.
Asbestos is a human carcinogen that causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and gastrointestinal cancers.
If you think that you have been exposed to asbestos through taconite mining or other processes, you should seek more information regarding your health risks and other dangers.
For more information, please visit the Mesothelioma Resource Center today.
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