TVA Lightweight News – Fall 2023

LIGHTWEIGHT NEWS THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE VERMICULITE ASSOCIATION

Collaborating to promote vermiculite. Encouraging and promoting best practices. Dedicated to safety, integrity and honesty.

FALL 2023

Message From the President

by Jeffrey Sheehy, Sr. Next year is the Vermiculite Association’s 75th anniversary! Over the years, we have witnessed the transformative power of unity and cooperation among our members. Our association has been dedicated to excellence and advancing the interests of our members and our industry.

Our members held a meeting in September to discuss our response to the guidelines released by the EPA. During the meeting, we contacted a similar trade association and had a call with an industry consultant to discuss the issue. We are also researching if we should collaborate with other organizations.

Our industry is facing numerous challenges and opportunities that go beyond organizational boundaries.

We recognize that there is immense strength in partnership. By joining hands with each other, we enhance our collective potential and realize a multitude of benefits. This is an opportunity to amplify our voice to the EPA about the new reporting

process they are planning to implement. We each bring unique strengths and insights to the table.

Collaborating allows us to tap into a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Currently, we are hopeful that the EPA will continue to provide more guidance.

We will keep our members updated as we have more information. Your active participation and support are crucial to our collective success. We know from our 75 years that when TVA members work together, we build a sense of unity and shared purpose which benefits us all.

Thank you for your commitment and dedication to our industry and association. I look forward to celebrating our milestone year at our Annual Meeting, April 23-25, 2024, in San Diego, California. Please save the date!

Visit us online

www.vermiculite.org

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SAVE THE DATE 2024 T VA AN N UAL M E E TI N G

TVA Board of Directors President Jeffrey Sheehy, Sr. Whittemore Co. Inc., Lawrence, Ma. 978-681-8833 jsheehy@whittemoreco.com Term expires 2024 Vice President Richard Knight Palabora Europe, Farnham, Surrey +44 (0) 1252 917341 richard.knight@palaboraeurope.co.uk Term expires 2024 Treasurer Dan Metz Virginia Vermiculite, Louisa, Va. 540-967-2266 dan@virginiavermiculite.com Term expires 2024

Celebrate TVA's 75th Anniversary at our 2024 Annual Meeting! Join us April 23 – 25, 2024, in San Diego, California.

Network with professionals and learn about the latest developments in our industry.

Immediate Past President Tim DeJarnette The Strong Company, Pine Bluff, Ark. 870-535-7617 timdejarnette@strongseal.com Term expires 2024

Attending TVA's Annual Meeting is a must for gaining valuable industry insights. With intentional networking and informative sessions, such as updates from mining members, you'll get a big-picture perspective of what affects us all.

Engage in these industry conversations, and you'll be sure to come away with a deeper understanding of the industry.

Stay tuned for more information!

Directors Matt Goecker Specialty Vermiculite, Bala Cynwyd, Pa. 775-287-9796 mgoecker@dicalite.com Term expires 2023 Jim Juron Traxys North America, New York, N.Y. 201-302-0888 jim.juron@traxys.com Term expires 2023

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From the Desk of Your Technical Consultant The latest news, observations and insights into the world of vermiculite

by Mike Darling

Vermiculite and Fire Safety in South African Informal Settlement Sites Mandoval Vermiculite

In recent years, many incidents have involved serious loss of life in various locations in South Africa. One of the most recent was in Johannesburg on Thursday, August 31. At least 74 people were killed, including several children.

The New York Times reported, “An earlymorning blaze tore through a five-story building that had become a sprawling, informal settlement, officials said. The cause was not known.”

Mandoval Vermiculite first demonstrated its product during a simulation at the Epping Fire Station in 2021.

The company will provide the funding for the product, machinery and training.

At the same time, Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre will fund the elevenperson employment from the local community through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).

This is just the tip of the iceberg regarding fires in informal settlements where multiple households live nearby in poorly constructed or converted buildings with little fire safety. Mandoval Vermiculite in South Africa is championing a way forward using vermiculite spray coatings to improve fire safety as affordably as possible, in these neglected and unsafe dwellings.

The team will endeavor to apply the fire-retardant product under the supervision of Mandoval staff and a city project manager. The aim is to help limit the spread of fire, thus minimizing the risk of injury, death and damage to infrastructure, property and the environment.

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From the Desk of Your Technical Consultant “We grapple with the risks of fire on a daily basis, particularly in our informal settlements, and so education and awareness have long formed part of our plans to mitigate these risks,” says City of Cape Town Safety and Security MMC JP Smith.

“The growth of areas of informality is an international phenomenon, and housing projects are unlikely to be able to keep up with the growing demand for formal housing.

“It is thus imperative to work towards mitigating the risk of fires in informal areas and save lives and property in the process.”

Overcome Heights has a high potential for large-scale fire incidents, which is why it was selected as the site for the pilot project. This year, there have been eight fires in the area. In 2022, twenty fires were recorded, and ten in 2021.

Mandoval Vermiculite has provided five days of practical training to the EPWP workers on applying the vermiculite product, which will include occupational, health and safety training. Vermiculite is a hydrous phyllosilicate mineral that undergoes significant expansion when heated.

Should the pilot project successfully prevent the spread of fires, funding could be secured by Informal Settlements Management within the Human Settlements Department, through public or private channels, to fund similar projects in other parts of the city.

Read more HERE. This thread is picked up by several other news outlets as well (LINK 1, LINK 2).

Turtle Eggs at Petrie Island Get Tender Loving Care (Using Some Vermiculite!)

CBC News · Posted: Jul 17, 2023.

It’s tough out there for unhatched turtle eggs, but a group of conservationists is trying to make it easier at Petrie Island. The popular beaches in east Ottawa are home to three of the eight turtle species found in Ontario: snapping turtles, painted turtles and northern map turtles.

Shy eastern musk turtles and Blanding’s turtles (a threatened species) could also frequent Petrie Island, but that’s unclear. The turtles lay eggs every spring, but up to 95 percent of clutches can be destroyed by predators such as skunks and raccoons, according to biologist Malcolm Fenech, a leader for the Petrie Island Turtle Project. To help get more eggs to hatch, project members have gathered eggs to incubate themselves indoors in Tupperware containers filled with damp vermiculite to prevent them from drying out completely.

Read more HERE.

Using a Vermiculite Containing Compost for Lavender Propagating Vermiculite comes in handy when propagating plants like lavender. When taking cuttings, it is essential to move quickly. You want to expose the cutting to the air for as little as possible. “Before you take your cuttings, prepare the equipment ready for your cuttings as you don’t want them to dry out while you set up your propagator and fill your pots. This will prevent a last-minute rush to the local garden center,” says Lucie Bradly, co-owner of Two Wests & Elliot Ltd. Fill a pot with free-draining compost, two parts compost to one part vermiculite to ensure plentiful drainage and prevent the cuttings from rotting. Terracotta pots are a good choice as they offer good drainage from the pot’s walls and base. Learn more HERE. Continued on next page...

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From the Desk of Your Technical Consultant Crops Grown Without Sunlight (And With Vermiculite!) Could Help Feed Astronauts Bound for Mars and Someday Supplement Dinner Plates on Earth

Published in: Science, Vol 380. Issue 6649.

June 8, 2023. Author: Robert F. Service.

For the first astronauts to visit Mars, what to eat on their three-year mission will be one of the most critical questions. It’s not just a matter of taste.

According to one recent estimate, a crew of six would require an estimated 10,000 kilograms of food for the trip. NASA—which plans to send people to Mars within two decades—could stuff a spacecraft with pre-packaged meals and launch additional supplies to the red planet before the voyage home. But even that wouldn’t completely solve the problem.

Micronutrients, including many vitamins, break down over months and must be synthesized en route. And food isn’t just a source of calories, according to Jennifer Fogarty, Chief Science Officer at the Translational Research Institute for Space Health at Baylor College of Medicine. Taste, texture, freshness, and other factors are significant in maintaining our well-being. Simple survival “is not the goal,” Fogarty says. She concludes that today’s preserved food system “is completely inadequate for a Mars mission.”

Robert Jinkerson, a chemical engineer at the University of California, Riverside, thinks the answer is for astronauts to grow an on-board garden—in the dark, with plant growth fuelled by artificial nutrients rather than sunlight. In his vision, electricity from solar panels could transform water and carbon dioxide (CO2) exhaled by a spacecraft’s crew into simple, energy-rich hydrocarbons that genetically modified plants could use to grow, even in the darkness of space or the dim light on Mars, which receives less than half as much sunlight as Earth.

The process revolves around making an acetate from CO2. The milky-white pearl oyster mushrooms growing inside a stainlesssteel refrigerator at UC Riverside’s Plant Transformation Research Center illustrate what else can be done with that acetate. Each mushroom grows out of an oversized test tube packed with sand-like vermiculite bathed in liquid growth media, a mixture of acetate and inorganic nutrients, including phosphorus and nitrogen. In work published last year in Nature Food, Jinkerson, Jiao, and colleagues fed acetate generated in their electrolyzer to mushrooms, yeast, and algae grown in the dark. Those organisms converted chemical energy into new biomass up to 18 times more efficiently than if they had been fed plants grown by photosynthesis.

Read more HERE. Continued on next page...

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From the Desk of Your Technical Consultant Health and Safety News There are a lot of news stories concerning the fire safety of lithium-ion batteries in use today, and this one looks at an avenue most of us will never have considered before.

LiCELL Aims to Lower Risk from Lithium-Ion Battery Fires in Yachts August 31, 2023, by Triton Staff.

Lithium-ion battery fires are no joke. Be prepared with some products designed to handle the dangers. Recently, fires related to lithium-ion batteries have become one of the significant dangers on board yachts. As these batteries have become more common, their high energy density has increased the risk of release of explosive and toxic gases.

An industry leader is championing his company’s products to safeguard against this increasingly common fire threat.

Steve Ginn of LiCELL Fire Protection believes the right tools go a long way. Ginn champions LiCELL’s Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion (AVD), a system for increased yacht safety. It includes the AVDTM fire suppression agent, or “Aqueous Vermiculite Dispersion,” a water-based suppression agent. It attacks the “Fire Triangle” critical elements—heat, fuel, and oxygen—when directly applied to lithium-ion battery cells experiencing thermal runaway.

“The water component swiftly cools the area of combustion, removing heat from the reaction,” Ginn said. “Additionally, AVD forms a non-conductive refractory film that restricts oxygen diffusion to the fuel source, cutting off the oxygen supply required to fuel combustion. By eliminating heat and oxygen, AVD efficiently extinguishes fires, preventing reignition and minimizing further damage.”

LiCELL fire extinguishers use naturally occurring minerals; the process is non-toxic and safe for humans. The company also produces fire blankets coated with vermiculite that smother flames immediately by cutting off their oxygen supply.

“LiCELL fire blankets are designed to withstand extremely high temperatures in an oxidizing atmosphere for an extended period while offering protection against potential debris and shrapnel expelled during a battery fire,” Ginn said. “Their versatility and ease of use make them accessible to anyone, regardless of their firefighting experience. Portable and requiring no complicated setup, these fire blankets are essential for fire safety preparedness and overall onboard fire safety.”

Read the article HERE. Continued on next page...

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From the Desk of Your Technical Consultant Novel Vermiculite Use

Vermiculite 838 Spiral Wound Gasket

Exfoliated vermiculite is often seen as a simulant ash and insulation layer below the ceramic logs used in gas-log fires. But so far, I’ve not seen a black-pigmented variety.

Presumably, the pigmentation must be inorganic to withstand the temperature, so maybe it is a manganese oxide or similar type.

The use of vermiculite in chemically expanded and delaminated form or as a micronized product in gasket formulations is nothing new. However, the Ningbo Sunshine Sealing Technology Co., Ltd in China is developing sophisticated new gasket products, with one variety containing vermiculite.

Skyflame Black Vermiculite Granules for Gas Fireplace

It is made of high-quality vermiculite and used in vented gas log set fireplaces utilizing propane or natural gas.

It enhances the real wood-burning effect and evenly distributes the flame. Vermiculite helps spread gas throughout the entire burner pan of propane gas logs.

Adds realism to your gas fireplace; Sparkles and shines in the fire.

Description: The vermiculite 835 spiral wound gasket is a critical service gasket designed for high temperatures and aggressive chemical media applications. It comprises a spirally wound sealing element consisting of a metal winding wire and a vermiculite-based filler material. The gasket can be supplied with inner and outer centering compression stop rings or sealing element form. The spiral construction provides excellent sealing performance and confers high levels of gasket resilience.

View the product on Amazon.

More information can be found HERE.

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From the Desk of Your Technical Consultant Mining and Production News A New High-Grade Discovery Could Transform Golden Mile’s 23.6Mt Quicksilver Nickel-Cobalt Project Stockhead News. August 24, 2023.

Golden Mile Resources has completed a seven-hole drilling program at its flagship Quicksilver nickel-cobalt project, designed to test a high-grade area beneath the oxide resource. The Quicksilver project is an oxide clay/vermiculite hosted nickel-cobalt deposit with a current indicated and inferred resource of 23.6Mt at 0.64% nickel and 0.043% cobalt for a contained 168,500t of nickel and 11,300t of cobalt, with some rare earth and scandium.

The 7 Reverse Circulation (RC) Drill holes completed for a total of 1,353m were designed to test the primary zone beneath the nickelcobalt oxide resource in the proximity of hole 23QDD0082, which intersected 49m at 1.74% nickel (Ni), 0.071% cobalt (Co) from 30m.

The drilling highlighted a rare geological setting, which the company says may provide context for the recent discovery of high-grade (2% to 3%) nickel-bearing vermiculite. Golden Mile could transform the project by selectively mining the high-grade vermiculite, which is rare but known to occur in part of the large Brazilian Onca and Puma nickel deposits owned by Vale SA. The quote that initially caught my eye is: “If the vermiculite forms in identifiable seams, we will be able to selectively mine the high-grade,” but I sincerely doubt that any by-product vermiculite that comes out as tailings from this deposit will not be of interest to TVA members.

Read more HERE and HERE.

A “Peep Into the Past” Relevant to the Above News Item United States Department of the Interior Geological Survey Bulletin 935-E, as produced by William T. Pecora and dated 1944, describes and examines a Nickel-Silicate and Associated Nickel Cobalt-Manganese Oxide deposit near Sao Jose Do Tocantins in Goias in Brazil that also contains vermiculite. The association with vermiculite is well described on page 275 of this 305-page bulletin.

The vermiculite is greenish, soft, and leafy, is interlayered in books with yellowish clay, and exfoliates when placed in a hot flame. One hand-selected specimen, dried and cleaned of mud, gave a positive qualitative test for nickel.

This bulletin has been scanned and made available online by the USGS as a PDF HERE. Continued on next page...

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From the Desk of Your Technical Consultant

Are You Blogging?

As you know, TVA launched a blog on its website to promote vermiculite and raise awareness of its uses.

Uganda Ban on Exports, Raw Minerals Export to Stay

We need your help to build this new resource. Have you written an article recently or have resources you can share that can be published on the blog?

October 12, 2022.

The confusing ban on certain partially refined minerals, ores, and some other slightly bizarre commodities out from Uganda, as imposed back in 2015, has ebbed and flowed ever since. On October 12, 2022, The Daily Monitor (published in Kampala, Uganda), picked up the story again (read the full story HERE).

We are looking for people to share:

Construction

Last year, the State Minister for Minerals, Mr. Peter Lokeris, said the government would review the ban and introduce exceptions, admitting that several minerals cannot be easily processed beyond a certain level in Uganda. To find out more, please follow the LINK.

Horticulture Industrial Best Practices

There is now a YouTube posting titled: Government Ban on Exports of Raw Minerals Impacts Some Investors. This was last updated on August 9, 2023. In essence, it says:

Health, Safety and Environmental Topics

While the ban on exports of raw minerals more than four years ago may be bearing some fruit in areas like Gold, observers fear some in the sector have been left in the cold because the blanket ban may not have factored in unique circumstances. Vermiculite minors are seeking special consideration to remain in business.

If you have content that relates to these topics, please send articles and pictures to Michelle at communications@vermiculite.org.

Check Out the Blog A Nickel-Bearing Vermiculite Deposit in the News Geologically, this is common. The vermiculite present in these metalliferous deposits is different from one that would interest TVA members, as it tends to be clay or relatively small-sized. Obviously, as a result of ion exchange, it will contain variable quantities of nickel and other undesirable metals.

This most recently reported occurrence is in Australia.

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Technical Papers

a listing of literature about the use of vermiculite by Mike Darling Effects of Kaolinite, Vermiculite and Palygorskite on Fired Clay Brick Properties Authors: Wang, Sen (2023) Ph.D. by Publication, Queensland University of Technology.

Description: This thesis reveals the role of different clay minerals in the fired brick production process. Multiple in-situ characterization techniques have been effectively combined to study the thermal behavior of clayey materials added with kaolinite, expandable vermiculite, and nanofibrous palygorskite at various dosages.

Laboratory-scale brick buttons are obtained to test the mineralogical composition, mechanical strength, density, porosity, color, water absorption, and thermal diffusivity. The conclusions obtained can effectively assist brick manufacturers and researchers in achieving optimized clay mix design to obtain maximum economic efficiency and quality.

Uses of Vermiculite and Perlite in FireRetardant Textile Applications Author: Ramazan Erdem.

Published in: Trends in Textile Engineering & Fashion Technology, April 21, 2023.

Abstract: In parallel with industrialization, concerns about human safety have noticeably grown. Consequently, there have been advancements in the fields of functional and protective textiles. Minerals such as vermiculite and perlite are widely accessible, lightweight, environmentally friendly, cost-efficient, and inert, which makes it possible to create composite structures that are immensely useful. Vermiculite and perlite are potential candidates for fire protection since they are non-combustible. In this context, the previous research on developing flame-resistant textile materials using vermiculite and perlite has been summarized in this article.

High-Efficiency Removal of Cs (I) by Vermiculite/Zinc Hexacyanoferrate (II) Composite from Aqueous Solutions or Click Here

Authors: Tianya Dai, Jinpeng Feng, Jiann-Yang Hwang, Yangyang Bao, Chenhui Gao, Zeping Wang, Wei Mo, Xiujuan Su, & Hongfei Lin. Published in: Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering.

Volume 11, Issue 2, April 2023.

Abstract: Aimed to solve the problems of low adsorption capacity, complex preparation and difficult recovery for reported cesium ion adsorbents, a novel high-efficiency Cs+ adsorbent of vermiculite/zinc hexacyanoferrate (II) (VMT/ZnHCF) composite was prepared via in situ synthetic method. The structure and properties of this composite were comprehensively characterized using XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, and TG-DTA. The maximum Cs+ adsorption capacity was recorded to be 378.79 mg/g, and this value was significantly higher than the values recorded for other absorbents. This spontaneous and exothermic adsorption behavior could be explained by the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. In addition, this composite exhibited excellent selective adsorption ability towards Cs+ even in solutions containing high concentrations of Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+. The Cs+ adsorption mechanism was analyzed by conducting ion exchange experiments and using XRD, SEM, and XPS techniques. The Cs+ adsorption of the VMT/ZnHCF composite was synergistically achieved through the ion exchange of Na+ in vermiculite interlayers and Zn2+ in zinc hexacyanoferrate (II) lattices. A high-efficiency and simple preparation of cesium ion adsorbent has been developed in the application of cesium ion wastewater treatment. This work can provide theoretical guidance to realize the non-hazardous treatment of radioactive wastewater.

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Technical Papers

a listing of literature about the use of vermiculite by Mike Darling

Cr6+ Adsorption by Modified Vermiculite or Click Here

Sewage Sludge Treated with Bentonite, Vermiculite or Biochar can Improve Soil Properties and Enhance Growth of Grasses or Click Here

Authors: Valeria Medoro, Celia Marcos Pascual, Giacomo Ferretti, Giulio Galamini, & Massimo Coltorti.

Authors: Athanasios Balidakis, Theodora Matsi, AnastasiaGaryfallia Karagianni, Ioannis Ipsilantis.

Published in: EGU General Assembly 2020. Published online 2023.

Published in: Soil Use and Management (Wiley). June 15, 2023.

Abstract: This work aimed at investigating the adsorption of Cr6+ in water by exfoliated vermiculite.

The adsorbent tested in this experiment was a vermiculite (from China), which was subjected to heating at 1000 °C for 1 minute, resulting in an exfoliated vermiculite.

Abstract: Sewage sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar was evaluated as a soil amendment compared to limed and untreated sludge. Seven treatments were established to two soils, an acid and an alkaline, in three replications, i.e., 2% addition of sludge treated with bentonite, vermiculite, biochar and lime and application of 2% untreated sludge, inorganic fertilization and no sludge or inorganic fertilizers (control). Then, the soil treatments were used in a pot experiment with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) as a test plant.

Sludge treated with clay minerals or biochar improved the pH of the acid soil and significantly increased the organic matter and available nutrients of both soils compared to the control. Although no salinity or sodicity hazard was evidenced, the initial salinity of acid and alkaline soil increased by four-eight and two-three times, respectively, upon adding all sludge treatments, especially that of untreated sludge.

Three effects were studied: 1) contact time, 2) initial concentration of Cr6+, 3) adsorbent mass. Samples were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the solutions with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to quantify the adsorbed Cr6+ by the vermiculite.

Results from XRD diffraction showed a conversion of vermiculite into flogopite after heating at 1000°C for 1 minute because of 1) high content of potassium, 2) dehydration and 3) structural re-ordering; after the contact of vermiculite with Cr6+, the mineral structure did not change. The adsorption of Cr6+ was studied by Langmuir, Freundlich and DubininKaganer-Radushkevich (DKR) isotherm models. DKR model, indicative of a cooperative process, described adsorption equilibrium better than the other two models, and the maximum adsorption capacity obtained was 2.81 mol/g. Kinetic was studied using pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, with a better description of the process by a pseudosecond-order model with a correlation coefficient almost unitary (R2=0.9984; other kinetic parameters were k2=0.0015 and the absorption initial rate of 0.2x10-8 mg g-1 h-1).

Moreover, soil available zinc (Zn) increased by foureight times. Soil application of sludge treated with clay minerals or biochar increased the total above-ground biomass yield of ryegrass in the acid and alkaline soil by 133%–171% and 72%–88%, respectively, compared to control and enhanced nutrient uptake by plants.

Furthermore, the microbial metabolic quotient indicated a lack of low pH and heavy metal stress with the addition of sludge to the acid soil. After three harvests of ryegrass, the residual effect of sludge on the pH of acid soil and salinity, available phosphorus (P), Zn and boron (B) of both soils still persisted. Thus, sewage sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite, or biochar could be applied to soils at a rate of 2% (≈80 Mg ha−1) to serve as a soil amendment and fertilizer for grasses and pasture species; however, caution is needed regarding possible P build-up, Zn phytotoxicity and salinization risks.

The present study demonstrates the effectiveness of modified vermiculite adsorbents for the treatment of hexavalent chromium-contaminated waters and that its adsorption depends on the experimental conditions (such as contact time, initial concentration of Cr6+ and adsorbent mass).

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Technical Papers

a listing of literature about the use of vermiculite by Mike Darling

A Study on Vermiculite-Based Salt Mixture Composite Materials for Low-Grade Thermochemical Adsorption Heat Storage or Click Here Authors: Ziwei Chen, Yanan Zhang, Yong Zhang, Yuehong Su, and Saffa Riffat.

Published in: Energy. Volume 278, September 1, 2023.

Highlights: • Review on composite materials for low-grade thermochemical adsorption heat storage.

• Synthesis of vermiculite-based composites with impregnation of binary salt mixtures.

• Material characterization of different vermiculite-based composites.

• Cyclability testing of vermiculite-based composite with MgSO4–CaCl2.

Abstract: High-performance renewable energy technologies are desired to meet the enormous demand during the clean energy transition. Thermal energy storage can help balance the mismatch between renewable energy supplies and end-user demands. Thermochemical adsorption heat storage (TAHS) has attracted widespread attention for its ability to efficiently utilize low-grade renewables and waste heat. Composite adsorbent materials have been gaining increased research interest, which combines hygroscopic salts and host matrix via impregnating salts in the matrix.

This paper reviews recent progress in composite materials for TAHS and provides material characterization analysis on different vermiculite-based composites. The composites use vermiculite as the host matrix with impregnation of different binary and ternary salt mixtures (i.e., MgSO4–CaCl2, MgCl2–LiNO3, MgSO4–LiCl and MgSO4–LiNO3–MgCl2).

Vermiculite impregnated with a binary mixture of MgSO4–CaCl2 demonstrated a high energy storage density of 1213 kJ/kg, with fast desorption kinetics in the temperature range of low-grade heat. It shows good suitability for domestic TAHS applications, particularly for space heating, with stable cyclic performance over 20 charging-discharging cycles, maintaining approximately 91.3% of its initial energy storage density. The findings of this study contribute to the growing body of research on composite materials and demonstrate the potential of vermiculite-based composites impregnated with binary salt mixtures for low-grade TAHS.

Mechanical and Acoustic Performance of Concrete Containing Vermiculite and Rubber or Click Here Authors: Lucas Silveira Batista, Fabiana Maria da Silva, Amauri Ernesto Gomes, Luísa Andréia Gachet, José Maria Campos Dos Santos, Mirian Lourdes N.M. Melo, Maria Rachel de Araújo Russo, and Rosa Cristina Cecche Lintz.

Published in: Materials Research. No. 26 (Ibero-American Journal of Materials). 2023 Abstract: The excessive production of new tires and the inappropriate disposal of waste tires have caused serious environmental and public health problems. To properly dispose of this environmental liability, these rubber residues have been used in cement composites to improve some of their properties in the hardened state. This study evaluates the incorporation of rubber and vermiculite residues in concrete in terms of mechanical and acoustic properties. Different concrete compositions were defined, where rubber waste and vermiculite were used to replace the natural sand mass.

To characterize the concretes, mechanical and acoustic tests and analysis of the microstructure of the material were carried out to understand its properties better. An improvement in the acoustic properties can be seen in the composites with rubber and vermiculite. Thus, the great contribution of this research is the development of concrete compositions for acoustic barriers that are technically viable, adding environmental benefits.

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Technical Papers

a listing of literature about the use of vermiculite by Mike Darling

Effect of Vermiculite Modified with Nano-Iron-Based Material on Stabilization of Lead in Lead-Contaminated Soil Authors: Xiao Shao, Jiang Yu, Jiahua Chang, Zhi Huang, Yinying Jiang, and Siwei Deng.

Published in: Environmental Science and Pollution Research.

Volume 30. June 23, 2023.

Abstract: Lead (Pb) contamination arising from the production of lead-acid batteries is getting more severe, and research on its treatment technology reflects the increasing concern worldwide.

Vermiculite is a mineral with a layered structure, containing hydrated magnesium aluminosilicate and has high porosity and a large specific surface area. Vermiculite can improve soil permeability and water retention performance. However, in recent studies, vermiculite is shown to be less effective than other stabilizing agents in immobilizing heavy metal Pb. Nano-ironbased materials have been widely used to adsorb heavy metals in wastewater.

Therefore, vermiculite has been modified with two nano-ironbased materials—nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) and nanoFe3O4 (nFe3O4) to improve its immobilization effect for the heavy metal lead. SEM and XRD analysis confirmed that nZVI and nFe3O4 were successfully loaded on the raw vermiculite. XPS analysis was applied to further understand the composition of VC@nZVI and VC@nFe3O4. The stability and mobility of nano-iron-based materials were improved after being loaded on raw vermiculite, and the Pb immobilization effect of modified vermiculite on Pb-contaminated soil was evaluated. Adding nZVI-modified vermiculite (VC@nZVI) and nFe3O4-modified vermiculite (VC@ nFe3O4) increased the immobilization effect and decreased the bioavailability of Pb. Compared with raw vermiculite, adding VC@ nZVI and VC@nFe3O4 increased the amount of exchangeable Pb by 30.8% and 6.17%. After leaching ten times in soil column leaching experiments, the total concentration of Pb in the leachate of the soil with VC@nZVI and VC@nFe3O4 were reduced by 40.67% and 11.47%, compared with raw vermiculite. These results prove that the modification with nano-iron-based materials enhances the immobilization effect of vermiculite, in which the effect of VC@ nZVI is significantly better than VC@nFe3O4. Vermiculite was modified with nano-iron-based materials, resulting in a better fixing effect of the modified curing agent. This study provides a new approach for the remediation of Pb-contaminated soil, but further research is needed for soil recovery and utilization of nanomaterials.

Expansion and Shrinkage of Lightweight Vermiculite Material at High Temperatures or Click Here Authors: Rasmus R. Petersen, Martin B. Olesen, Jakob König, and Yuanzheng Yue. Published in: Ceramics International.

Volume 49, Issue 14, July 15, 2023.

Abstract: Vermiculite materials are widely used as insulation material in the industry, fire protection systems, and fire stoves. The high dimensional stability of vermiculite boards ensures that thermal runways in the insulation lining are avoided. Vermiculite boards for hightemperature applications are produced from thermally expanded vermiculite and alkali silicate binder. Here, we show the impact of potassium silicate binder and vermiculite source on the dimensional stability of vermiculite boards. The vermiculite boards expand at 500–830 °C and shrink stepwise at 1000–1250 °C and 1400 °C, respectively, when heated at 10 °C min−1 in ambient air.

The expansion process is discussed in relation to the boards containing non-expanded particles and metal carbonates. The evolved gas analysis indicates that the CO2 release from metal carbonates is the potential cause of the expansion of some vermiculite types. The dehydroxylation of the clay structure initiates the shrinkage. The binder promotes crystallization during the shrinkage, ceasing the shrinkage process at higher temperatures. The expansion and shrinkage of vermiculite boards are anisotropic and depend on the board density and vermiculite origin.

These findings provide new insights into the expansion and shrinkage behavior of vermiculite boards.

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LIGHTWEIGHT NEWS - FALL 2023

Technical Papers

a listing of literature about the use of vermiculite by Mike Darling

Extraction of Natural Myristic Acid from Nutmeg with Expanded Vermiculite for Thermal Energy Storage or Click Here Authors: Loka Prakash Vandana and Ravi Ramadoss.

Published in: Journal of Energy Storage, Volume 52, Part C, August 25, 2022.

Abstract: Synthesizing liquid Myristic Acid (MA) from nutmeg and expanding Vermiculite (EV), a blended phase change material (BPCM), was synthesized. Its chemical composition, shape, and thermal characteristics were investigated and validated. The MA/EV BPCM had the greatest mass concentration of MA at 93.7% when the diffusion–exudation circle technique was used. When evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the MA/EV ratio revealed melting and solidification temperatures are 58.3 °C and 53.4 °C, latent heats of melting and solidification are 5.528 KJ/Kg and 5.594 KJ/Kg, respectively. This indicates that the material maintained significant thermal storage capacity after numerous heat cycles. An increase in thermal conductance was seen in the MA/EV BPCM, and heat storage/discharge studies showed that heat storage/discharge ratios were much higher in the EV/MA specimen than in the MA specimen. These results demonstrated that the Natural Myristic acid/expanded vermiculite BPCM was an excellent material for storing thermal energy at low temperatures.

Development of Lightweight Geopolymer Composites Containing Perlite and Vermiculite Authors: K. Korniejenko, K. Pławecka, A. Bulut, B. Şahin, G. Azizağaoğlu, and B. Figiela.

Published in: Journal of Achievements in Materials and Manufacturing Engineering. 2023.

Abstract: Purpose: This work aimed to prepare and characterize geopolymer composites containing lightweight aggregates - perlite and vermiculite.

Design/methodology/approach: The geopolymer matrix was prepared on the basis of fly ash, sand and a 6M sodium hydroxide solution with sodium silicate. The properties of the materials were tested 28 days after the preparation of the samples. The following research methods were used to characterize the composites: compressive and flexural strength tests, microstructural tests using a scanning electron microscope, and thermal conductivity were measured.

Findings: The results obtained showed a slight effect of the additives on the strength properties. Lightweight aggregates are characterized by good coherence with the matrix material. Their addition allowed to reduce the density and lowered the thermal conductivity of the materials. The results obtained indicate that the proposed additives can improve the properties of the geopolymer composite for use in the construction industry.

Research limitations/implications: Further research should focus on geopolymer composites with perlite and involve fireresistant and water-absorption tests.

Practical implications: The production of lightweight building materials brings a number of benefits, such as reducing the density of building elements and, at the same time, the entire structure, which results in a reduction in their weight, as well as lower transport costs. Such elements have better thermal and acoustic insulation, reflected in the parameters of buildings. An additional advantage is the reduced environmental impact through better insulation properties, lower fuel consumption during transport, etc.

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LIGHTWEIGHT NEWS - FALL 2023

Technical Papers

a listing of literature about the use of vermiculite by Mike Darling

Developing Lightweight Concrete Bricks by Replacing Fine Aggregate with Vermiculite: a Regression Analysis Prediction Approach Authors: G. Nakkeeran & L. Krishnaraj.

Published in: Asian Journal of Civil Engineering, volume 24. Published: February 1, 2023.

Abstract: Concrete production requires a wealth of resources, including cement, aggregate, and water. Therefore, in terms of conserving the earth’s natural ecosystems and resources, researchers need to find alternative sustainable and green methods for producing concrete. This research work primarily focuses on using potentially harmful substances as alternative aggregates in manufacturing lightweight concrete blocks.

In this study, the emphasized concrete block mixes are cement, fine aggregate, and vermiculite. Three trail mixes are investigated by the replacement ratio of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, 50:50, and 40:60 for fine aggregate in bricks.

Statistical techniques are used to compare all the obtained experimental results. First, regression analysis is used to determine the precise relationship between the dependent and independent variables of the study. The parameters investigated were the compressive strength and density of concrete brick. The regression model captured the data’s variability as evidenced by the suitable R2 threshold (R2 > 0.95). Then, using regression, contour plots, main plots, and heat maps, predicted every property of concrete brick. Concluding the study, it is determined that the models generated being the most effective results compared to the existing research.

Biomimetic Two-Dimensional Vermiculite Nanofluidic Membranes for Stable Salinity-Gradient Energy Conversion Authors: Yuanhao Liu, Xin Ding, Long Chen, Weiliang Tian, Xinru Xu, & Kewei Zhang.

Published in: Inorganic Chemistry 2023 (62). March 30, 2023.

Abstract: Aligned ion transport in the nano-fluidic membrane is promising for efficient salinity-gradient energy conversion while remaining rather challenging due to relatively inadequate mass transport and long-time durability. In this work, wet-chemically exfoliated and negatively charged vermiculite lamellas are readily restacked into free-standing membranes with massive arrays of nano-channels and a three-dimensional interface. The resulting vermiculite nanofluidic membranes possess excellent stability against harsh conditions, including a wide pH range and high temperature, and exhibit a different ion transport behavior from the macroscopic one due to the surface-charge-governed conductivity.

The ionic conductivity is several orders of magnitude higher than that of the native solution at low concentrations.

Moreover, the negatively charged lamellas create a space charge zone, making the nano-fluidic membrane capable of coupling surface charge and space charge in confinement for salinity-gradient energy conversion from seawater and freshwater. Compared with other layered materials, the vermiculite-derived membranes have distinct advantages such as low cost, facile fabrication, and high stability. This work provides a new idea for designing nano-fluidic membranes from phyllosilicate minerals, which offers opportunities for manufacturing nano-fluidic devices.

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LIGHTWEIGHT NEWS - FALL 2023

Technical Papers

a listing of literature about the use of vermiculite by Mike Darling

Synergistic Effect of Vermiculite and Submerged Plants on Lake Sediments or Click Here Authors: Rou Wang, Yunli Liu, Feng Luo, Guoliang Bai, Yadong Tang, Qingjun Fang, Jiying Zhu, Beining Li, Zisen Liu, Feng He, Qiaohong Zhou, Zhenbin Wu, and Yi Zhang.

Published in: Water Biology and Security. Volume 2, Issue 3, July 2023.

Abstract: The synergistic effect of vermiculite and the submerged macrophytes Vallisneria spiralis and Hydrilla verticillata on lake sediment was studied using diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) technology. The dynamics of phosphorus (P) fractions in sediment, the labile-P and labile-S in the water-sediment continuum, and the microbial community in the rhizosphere were studied. Vermiculite effectively promoted the reproduction of microorganisms in the sediments. Microbial abundance in treatments containing V. spiralis with sediments containing 10% added vermiculite and H. verticillata containing 50% added vermiculite being 1.7 and 3.5 times higher than the controls, which contained no added vermiculite. Acidobacteria and Proteobacteria populations, which are both beneficial for the sediment microenvironment, were higher in treatment groups containing vermiculite. The bioavailable-P in treatment groups containing added vermiculite was lower at the sediment-water interface, with a correlating decrease of TP by between 63% and 91% in the overlying water. This suggests that vermiculite can affect the release of labile P and facilitate the assimilation of nutrients by macrophyte roots. Additionally, vermiculite can improve the Oxidation-Reduction potential and further reduce sulfide toxicity to plants. These results provide theoretical guidance and technical support for the application of vermiculite combined with submerged plants for the remediation of eutrophic lakes.

Study Highlights Vermiculite as an Efficient Technique for the Remediation of Eutrophic Lakes Author: KeAi Communications Co..

Published in: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. Volume 30. June 23, 2023.

Abstract: When the amount of nutrients from outside sources is reduced, the release of nutrients already present in the water becomes the main reason for water pollution due to the excessive growth of plants and algae. To restore and maintain a healthy balance in lakes affected by this pollution, scientists are focusing on using special mineralbased materials and techniques that involve planting underwater vegetation. These methods have gained popularity as they help promote the long-term recovery of these ecosystems.

Vermiculite is a natural mineral with a unique structure that can absorb nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as harmful pollutants like heavy metals.

It can also help improve the physical makeup of sediment.

However, little is known about how sediment is affected when using vermiculite alongside underwater plants.

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LIGHTWEIGHT NEWS - FALL 2023

Technical Papers

a listing of literature about the use of vermiculite by Mike Darling

Configuration Modulation of Vermiculite by Exfoliation Coupled Cu(Ii) Anchoring for Boosting Removal of Tetracycline Via Synergy of Adsorption and Photocatalysis

Spontaneous Delamination of Affordable Natural Vermiculite as a High-Barrier Filler for Biodegradable Food Packaging Authors: Volodymyr Dudko, Renee L. Timmins, Olena Khoruzhenko, Maximilian Röhrl, Christopher Greve, Sabine Rosenfeldt, Tekla Tammelin, Seema Agarwal, Eva M. Herzig, and Josef Breu.

Authors: Ping Zhang, Mingxue Xiang, Wei Jiang, Huiling Liu, Yu Chen, Ying Fang, Longyong Wu, Hongjun Guo, & Yufei Wang.

Published in: Preprint article reproduced by SSRN – Elsevier. Posted online: May 15, 2023.

Published in: Materials Advances. November 3, 2022.

Abstract: Expensive biodegradable packaging as a preventative measure against the continued accumulation of plastic waste in our environment is often in conflict with the need for high-performing packaging materials that prevent food waste.

Compounding with delaminated vermiculite nanosheets is a compelling concept to simultaneously improve barrier properties by creating a ‘tortuous path’ while also decreasing the price of the system due to its natural abundance. However, an effective delamination process that captures the full barrier improvement potential of this natural filler has been lacking. Here, we present a superior protocol for vermiculite delamination based on reducing the intrinsic hydrophobicity due to interlayer Mg2+ cations and the transfer of this osmotically swollen, liquid crystalline state into organic solvents. Nanocomposite coatings of degradable polyesters on nano-cellulose exhibited oxygen and water transmission rates of 1.30 cm3 m−2 day−1 atm−1 and 1.74 g m−2 day−1, respectively, which competes with high-end, nondegradable poly(vinylidene dichloride) films.

Abstract: Integrated adsorption and photocatalysis is a worthy frontier strategy for recalcitrant organics elimination, yet the current challenge is developing materials featured with dual functions of adsorption/ photocatalytic ability. In this scenario, a novel attractive exfoliated vermiculite coupling with Cu(II) composite (eVT@Cu) was tactfully engineered. Specifically, exfoliated structure containing vast negative charge was conductive for Cu(II) loading. The anchored Cu(II) played triple roles in this system, that is, regulating electron configuration of photo-catalyst with narrow bandgap, as well as providing complexation sites for tetracycline (TC) enrichment. With the help of inherent Fe(III), Cu(II) was ready to form heterogeneous high-valence Cu(III) driven by photonic energy. Benefited by these effects, eVT@ Cu exhibited extreme augment on TC removal compared to pristine eVT, with ca. 80% removal efficiency through the synergy of adsorption and photocatalysis. Overall, this study not only provides an excellent environmental candidate for TC removal but also opens a brand-new perspective for the generation of heterogeneous highvalence Cu(III) over eVT@Cu under visible light.

LIGHTWEIGHT

Feature Yourself in Lightweight News!

In future issues of TVA's Lightweight News newsletter, we want to highlight our amazing members. Spotlight your company and share your experience in the industry!

Member Spot

light

been in the indu did you get into stry, and why this industry?

Being a "Stokie" from Stoke on Kingdom, I was brought up in the Trent in the United world-famous cent of ceramics. I stud er ied ceramics, heav temperature stee y clays and high l plant refractori es. My working began as a labo life ratory technicia n at the age of brickworks that 16 at a local produced build ing bricks, Firec and High-Tempera lay bricks ture Bauxite brick A move of emp loyer some 10 year s for steel ladle linings. s later (1974) took to what is now Dupré Minerals me Ltd (previously Davis Ltd) as Assis Hoben tant General Man ager. It was here I became fascinate that d with the prod uction of vermiculit through two antiq e uated "Mantoc " furnaces, so to have been invo date, lved with vermiculit e for some 50 year I s!

Tell us about your company and wha your current posi t you do in tion.

A:

Q:

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MER 2023

Andrew Bayla y, The Vermiculite Consultancy Ltd Q: How long have you

Do you want to be featured? Simply click the button below and fill out our interview survey. You can also include a headshot and/or your company logo, please email Communications Associate Matthew Zemba at commassoc@vermiculite.org.

Click Here to complete our interview survey.

NEWS - SUM

A:

I retired from Dupr é in 2018; how a realization that my life's work was ever, itchy feet and I decided to start my biggest inter est, my own consultan great expectati cy business with ons, it has to be said. Within week out called upon to advis s I was e a miner in Chin know well. Then a, a country that along came COV I ID, just three mon after my return ths fro

Q: How long have you TVA, and why did

been a membe you join?

A: My membership with

TVA goes way back, maybe over 40 years. I ser a Director of TVA and often atten ded meetings. I joine d TVA as vermiculit my focus at Dupr e é, and my vision was become totally immersed in verm icul its applications.

Joining TVA allow ed m network with likeminded people.

Q: What do you enjoy membership with

most about your TVA?

A: The newsletter and

Mike Darling’s contribution is always a good read . The annual meetings are a highlight and informative. are

LIGHTWEIGHT NEWS - FALL 2023

How Does a Leader Live Out Being Authentic?

by Jeff Tippett

Authentic leadership doesn’t “just happen.” It takes a sustained effort on your part to become the leader that you and others around you deserve.

One way to gauge the level of authentic leadership is to look around. Do the people working for the leader in question respect them? Are they loyal?

Transactional leadership can make this difficult.

People are more concerned with completing the task in front of them and avoiding some sort of punishment than in building up relationships.

They look for new leadership and feel no sense of loyalty. And who would blame them?

Team members seek to emulate the leadership qualities espoused at the top. If, for example, they see a leader who is self-interested and concerned only with profit maximization, the same mindset will be rife among the ranks. An authentic leader

must lead by example. That creates a space where the other members of your organization can also be their own authentic selves. That’s the environment most conducive to innovation, collaboration and success.

This relates to the discussion of diversity in the workplace. No longer can it simply be a checked box or a quota of various life experiences. Instead of glossing over diversity and seeking a homogenous workplace, emphasize the unique values and experiences that each member of the team brings to the table.

Allowing everyone, from the newest employee to the founder, to be their authentic self will yield positive results.

It may sound easy to declare one style better than another in the abstract, but what about in the real world? Take it from one of the most successful women in history: Oprah Winfrey has said, “The secret is authenticity. The reason people fail is because they’re pretending to be something they’re not.”

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LIGHTWEIGHT NEWS - FALL 2023

It’s not only better to be authentic; in many ways, it’s easier. Think of how much effort it takes to put on airs rather than to just be yourself. Authenticity will increase efficiency and bring about a more positive work environment for everyone. Isn’t it likely that your team will work harder and accomplish more if they actually like the person for whom they work? Or, at the very least, if they understand who the leader is and know that person is sincere in their interactions?

Don’t underestimate how much of a sea change an authentic leader can be for your organization.

About the Author:

Jeff Tippett

Jeff Tippett is the international best-selling author of two books, Pixels Are the New Ink and Unleashing Your Superpower: Why Persuasive Communication is the Only Force You Will Ever Need.

Speaking to international audiences through keynotes and seminars, Jeff helps attendees increase their effectiveness, gives them powerful tools to reach their goals, and empowers attendees to positively impact and grow their organizations or businesses.

Here’s one basic tool you can use today to make the transition from a transactional leader to an authentic one: Find clarity in your goal.

If you understand what you’re trying to accomplish, you don’t need to worry about contorting yourself to be something you’re not. Set your sights on a goal and fight toward it by being your true self.

If you can clearly articulate what you’re trying to accomplish (think back to our chapter on vision!) then you will find a workplace atmosphere that’s far better suited for success. Just like Dwight Eisenhower, you’ll know the value of each person in your office and how best to use their skills. If we put a veil over the way we are, there’s no way to succeed. Or any success that’s found will be somewhat muted in comparison to what could be. Why handcuff your potential?

In 2014, Jeff founded Targeted Persuasion, an awardwinning public affairs + communications firm. He has worked with renowned brands like Airbnb, The National Restaurant Association, The League of Women Voters, The League of Conservation Voters, plus others. Other industry experts have validated Jeff’s work with numerous awards including the prestigious The American Advertising Award.

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Jeff is the host of Victory by Association with Jeff Tippett, a podcast that shares the victories of association executives with the world, highlighting the great work done across this country every day. Metro MetroStyle Style

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Jefftippett.com

Visit us online

www.vermiculite.org

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LIGHTWEIGHT NEWS - FALL 2023

Snake Breeding With a Little Help From Vermiculite

Q: Tell us about yourself and your business.

A: The Molinaro Snake Lab is a brand I created that is based around snake breeding. Not only do I sell some of the snakes I breed as pets, but I also use the breeding process as a way to educate about snakes.

I make daily videos on TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, where I teach followers about snakes, breeding them, and hatching the babies.

We recently came across a viral TikTok by Keary Molinaro, who runs the Molinaro Snake Lab, where he breeds and sells five species of snakes. What really struck us was his use of vermiculite in the breeding process. We recently sat down to discuss his work.

I also try to get out into the community as often as possible to let people get up close and personal with snakes to help reduce the stigma associated with these amazing animals. I find that people fear things they don't understand. So, teaching people about the animals and their behavior makes them a lot less scary.

The success I found on social media and taking my snakes out in public gave me the opportunity to launch www.molinarosnakelab.com, where people can go to see the snakes I have available, the children's book I wrote, and more!

Q: How long have you been doing this?

A: I have been interested in keeping reptiles since I

was a kid. I've kept lizards and turtles, but my mother would never let me have a snake. She didn't like them at all! When I got a little older, I decided to go against her wishes and sneak one into my room and hope she wouldn't discover it. It was a ball python. I had him for about two weeks and then ended up getting another snake, a red tail boa. I successfully hid them for about two or three weeks until she discovered them.

As you can imagine, she wasn't happy. She vowed to never enter my room again. Not to clean, not to put away clothes, or anything, and she stayed true to that.

I had them for a few years until after I finished college and decided to join the Marine Corps. I ended up giving them to a reptile rescue before I left to go to boot camp.

I got out of the Marine Corps in 2016, and my family and I settled down and moved into a bigger home.

I wanted to get back into snake keeping again and decided to get another ball python. That turned into many more snakes and ultimately led to breeding and education.

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LIGHTWEIGHT NEWS - FALL 2023

Q: How did you know that perlite and vermiculite

Q: Tell us a little bit about how you use social media

would meet your needs?

to promote your work. What are your favorite social media platforms?

A: When I first started breeding, I did a lot of research

A: When I started breeding, I used Instagram as

on incubating the eggs. Snake eggs need a high level of humidity to prevent them from drying out and ultimately going bad. Breeders use a variety of different ways to maintain humidity inside their egg box.

After reading about a seasoned breeder using vermiculite or perlite, I decided to experiment. I found that a 2-to-1 mixture of vermiculite to perlite worked well at maintaining the humidity I needed. Once I mix them together, I add water to the point where the mixture will clump together when I squeeze it, but it won't drip. It hasn't let me down yet! I recently successfully hatched a leopard gecko in just perlite and water. So, I'm going to experiment with that on the snake eggs just to see if there is a difference.

Another fun thing is that I just emptied an egg box out in my garden! That’s another nice thing about using vermiculite and perlite to hatch the eggs. I can just dump the remnants in the garden!

a way to share what I was working on, connect with other breeders, and find folks who may be interested in my snakes. However, over the years, I've found that my passion is really the educational aspect of the process of breeding. I love to teach about it and show the process.

Snakes are often demonized in the media and overall have a negative stigma associated with them. I am on a mission to show the positive side of these amazing animals and teach that once we understand them, they are not so scary and quite fascinating. All the snakes that I breed are not dangerous to humans and make fun and fascinating pets! My primary social media platforms are TikTok and YouTube. Most of the videos I create are short, information-filled, and fast-paced, so I find that those two platforms work best for my type of content.

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LIGHTWEIGHT NEWS - FALL 2023

• There are a lot of folktales about snakes. For example, the one about a lady that had a big snake that would lay next to her and was actually sizing her up to eat her. This is totally fake. Snakes are ambush predators, so they don't plan out eating ahead of time like that.

Their brains are not complex enough to think that way.

Q: What was it like to go viral for the first time?

A: Going viral for the first time was kind of

overwhelming. It happened by accident. Up until 2020, I was posting photos on Facebook and Instagram. I had a small following of mostly other breeders.

A friend told me I need to put these on TikTok. I wasn't familiar with the platform and really didn't want to learn a new platform, so I resisted for a few months. Finally, I gave in and started posting them. They did okay but did not really take off. One day, I decided to film a snake of mine laying eggs. I then filmed myself candling the eggs.

(Candling eggs is when you hold a flashlight up to the egg to see if it has veins inside or not. If it has veins, it's a fertile egg; if not, it is infertile.) I posted that, and within a day, it had over a million views. It was overwhelming trying to answer all of the questions and comments coming in, and I really just didn't know what to do, but I felt I was onto something.

• Snakes don't chase people! Snakes are defensive creatures. They only strike when they feel they are in danger. They would much rather run away than bite. However, if cornered or stepped on, they will defend themselves.

• People, many times young children, are surprised when I tell them snakes have bones.

The fact is that some large pythons have more bones than any other animal on the planet!

• There are approximately 3,000 different species of snakes on the planet. About 600 of them are venomous. Of those, only about 200 can kill or significantly harm a human.

Q: Tell us about the snakes themselves! What are some

common misconceptions about snakes? What environmental challenges are snakes currently facing?

A: Currently, I keep six different species of snakes. (I

also keep one black widow spider, who I absolutely love!

They are incredibly fascinating creatures.) The newest snakes in my collection are a pair of Mexican Black King Snakes, which are are absolutely stunning-looking snakes.

I got a pair of hatchlings in September 2023. I plan to grow them up over the next two or three years and breed them.

You have to be careful breeding King Snakes, though. King Snakes will eat other snakes. So, if the conditions are not proper or the snakes are not fed properly, they can—and will—eat one another!

I find that learning the ins and outs of different species and successfully breeding them is the pinnacle of keeping.

For the snakes to breed, your keeping abilities need to be on point. You need to properly cycle the temperatures throughout the year, ensure they are healthy, fed a proper diet, etc. In addition, you need to be able to properly take care of the eggs. But to me, that's what keeping is all about: knowing exactly what the snake needs and providing them with it.

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LIGHTWEIGHT NEWS - FALL 2023

Articles for Lightweight News TVA is always looking for articles for this newsletter to keep its contents relevant for our members. Articles should range from 200 to 500 words, and photos are welcome. Articles can be about a unique project you’ve been involved with, your company’s community involvement, an industry hot topic, an honor or award—really, anything you think your fellow TVA members would want to read about.

Email articles to TVALightweightNews@gmail.com.

Our Mission: To be the leading vermiculite association in the world and to gather, develop and disseminate accurate and truthful information and regulations, form and encourage collaborations, provide services and promote best practices to members, fund development of new uses and technologies and promote the knowledge and safe use of vermiculite on a global scale.

Lightweight News is an e-publication of The Vermiculite Association.

Contact Us:

Material in this e-newsletter may be republished with permission of TVA and with proper line credit. Mention of commercial products in this publication is solely for information purposes, and endorsement is not intended by TVA. Material does not directly reflect the opinions or beliefs of the board or staff.

THE VERMICULITE ASSOCIATION 2207 Forest Hills Drive Harrisburg, PA 17112 Phone: 717-238-9902 Fax: 717-238-9985 Website: www.vermiculite.org

Additional Resources on the TVA Website TVA’s website, www.vermiculite.org, contains a variety of resources, including these documents about vermiculite: Vermiculite in the Construction Market

Staff Contacts:

Horticultural Vermiculite

Executive Director: Lisa Ruggiers tva@vermiculite.org

Health, Safety and Environmental Aspects Crystal Structure of Magnesium Vermiculite

Director of Communications: Michelle Keyser communications@vermiculite.org

Peat-Lite Vermiculite Concrete Vermiculite Data Vermiculite in the Industrial Sector The Use of Vermiculite as a Technological Additive in Animal Feedstuffs Vermiculite Gypsum Plasters

TVA's staff wants you to get the most out of your experience with TVA. We are available to serve you, so please do not hesitate to contact staff with any question or concern that you may have. For a full staff listing, please click here.

Collaborating to promote vermiculite. Encouraging and promoting best practices. Dedicated to safety, integrity and honesty.

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