Julia Chavez & Jaime Monsher
What is Wollastonite?
Wollastonite is a mineral with the chemical makeup of (CaSiO3); it is a hard material with a white appearance and high transparency. Wollastonite can be found in metamorphosed deposits of limestone, and can be found primarily in Essex and Lewis counties in New York, but other deposits can be found in California and Arizona as well as globally in China, India, and Mexico. Due to its chemical makeup, Wollastonite is preferable for its durability. It is among the silicate group, with a rather common chemical formula and elemental composition. It is a common mineral to be mined in ore deposits then processed by processing excess materials using magnetic separators.
Where and in what is Wollastonite produced?
It is used in products worldwide. In plastics, Wollastonite improves durability, better insulates, and adds fire and scratch resistance. It has been used to replace asbestos in construction. Wollastonite’s low water solubility makes it useful in metallurgy.
Potential environmental impacts
Some potential environmental impacts of Wollastonite include its use as a fertilizer. Its acicular crystal structure deters grubs and possibly even raccoons and skunks from harming a garden. Wollastonite could be a less risky and more natural solution to keeping a healthy garden than pesticides and such.
Willsboro, NY: Producer of 10% of the worlds production of Wollastonite
Willsboro, New York is a small town located on Lake Champlain in Essex County. It is near the Adirondack Nature forest, which is a natural forest with a mix of boreal and temperate broadleaf. It was sectioned off and has been a state preserved natural forest since the 1800s to prevent severe deforestation. In the past this city was renowned for its export of timber to Canada and has been the source and site of much trade since its founding in 1788.
According to the city’s site, it is a place for the perfect getaway/vacation home. Although it is a large city spanning 25000 acres the population is only 2025, according the US census in 2010. This means that this city is highly nature centered with very few people living there permanently. This is reflected by their site where most advertised activities are nature-oriented. There is no mention of the plant located in the town which can be interpreted as little pride residing in this production. In fact when a proposition for expansion of the mine site appeared on the ballot it only won 52.3% support, reflecting the desire to preserve the nature forest to which the mining site is next. Since this area is highly dominated by nature preserves with minimal signs of industrialization except for the mining site, one can conclude that this plant is not at the heart of this place, rather the nature in which it resides has much more of an impact on residents and tourists.
Although it is adjacent to the plant, it is also adjacent to many nature preserves. This, along with its high amount of tourism and nature-based activities, the city’s economy does not seem supported solely by the plant, rather the activities and visitor expenses. This places much more importance on the nature side of the place, rather than the economic advantages of the plant. Hiking, water sports, and races that involve kayaking and hiking, are but a few of the main activities that are popular in this city, most of which located outdoors. Social gatherings are centered around the appreciation of the city and all it has to offer, and the production of Wollastonite is not the most appreciated.
San Bernardino Mountains, CA: The hidden contributor
The Desert View Mine is located in the San Bernardino Mountains in California. They are classified as a national forest. About 75 miles away from Los Angeles, people come to get away and experience nature. The area offers opportunities to hike, climb, ski, and boat. People drive through the scenic Rim of the World to see it’s spectacular views.
The Desert View Mine is out of the way enough of any tourist towns for it to be a problem for inhabitants. People generally do not know about the mine, and are not bothered by it. The mine is about a two hour drive to any of the nearby towns, thus making it a prime location to not disturb anyone with its mining.
Conclusion
The plus of having Wollastonite used in many everyday products is having increased durability, strength, and prevention of warping and exposure. It is the hidden secret in many ceramic products and paint used in modern homes. It is very useful for plastics and metals as well, its productions sites are secluded due to the minerals origins, making its production and mining slip under the radar, making it but a subtle component in the area.
For both sites of production, the public was generally undisturbed or aware of the mining. Both sites are in heavily wooded areas, making them less noticeable to the general public. Since Wollastonite is a mined mineral, its deposits are limited and in the future will call for more expansion of the mining sites, or better techniques for the extraction.
Bibliography
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- Haynes, Fred. “Lewis Mine, Willsboro, NY.” Fred Haynes. February 11, 2014. Accessed February 27, 2017. http://fredmhaynes.com/2014/02/11/lewis-mine-willsboro-ny/.
- “San Bernardino National Forest – Home.” San Bernardino National Forest – Home. Accessed February 27, 2017. https://www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf.
- Leavens, Peter B., and Jimmie D. Patton. “The Desert View Mine San Bernardino Mountains, California: a possible intermediate between Långban, Sweden and Franklin, New Jersey .” Axis 4, no. 1 (2008). http://www.minrec.org/pdfs/Desert%20View%20mine%20rev-2.pdf.
- “San Bernardino Mountains.” SummitPost.org. Accessed February 27, 2017. http://www.summitpost.org/san-bernardino-mountains/171121.
- “What is Wollastonite? – Industrial Minerals Association – North America.” What is Wollastonite? – Industrial Minerals Association – North America. Accessed February 27, 2017. http://www.ima-na.org/?page=what_is_wollastonite.
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- “A Natural Solution to Control Grub Damage?” Canadian Wollastonite. Accessed February 27, 2017. http://canadianwollastonite.com/2016/06/09/a-natural-solution-to-grub-damage/.
- “Fluorescent Mineral SuperSite – Images, Blog, UV Info, Mineral Lights.” Fluorescent Mineral SuperSite – Images, Blog, UV Info, Mineral Lights. Accessed February 27, 2017. https://www.naturesrainbows.com/single-post/2017/01/06/Bright-Fluorescent-Wollastonite-Desert-View-Mine-California.