TVA Lightweight News - Spring 2023

THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE VERMICULITE ASSOCIATION

Lisa Ruggiers Named TVA Executive Director

TVA President Jeffrey Sheehy announced at the association's Annual Meeting in April that Lisa Ruggiers has taken over the Vermiculite Association’s Executive Director role. The position was formerly held by Denise Calabrese, CAE, who has decided to shift her focus from managing TVA.

“For a number of years, Lisa has been working as TVA’s Associate Executive Director. She has stepped in and stepped up when Denise or particular projects required her help and expertise,” Sheehy said.

Lisa has worked in non-profit management for nearly 30 years, with the last 14 years as an executive director. She works primarily with the Boards of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Bylaws and Policy Committee and Nominating Committee. As Executive Director, Lisa oversees all staff and ensures the client’s strategic plan is in place and implemented. In addition to her expertise in board leadership, nominations and elections, Lisa has extensive experience in budgeting, policies and procedures, public relations, marketing, branding, event planning and strategic direction.

“As TVA’s new Executive Director, I am honored and excited to work with our volunteers to lead our organization into the future," said Ruggiers. "I look forward to us continuing to build a collaborative environment where ideas flourish, members thrive, and our collective impact is amplified. I believe that by harnessing our collective expertise, passion, and dedication, we can make a difference for our association, our members, and the industry.”

Sheehy thanked Calabrese for her 10-year tenure with the Vermiculite Association as its executive director. “We have certainly appreciated Denise’s hard work and dedication. We wish her well, and we look forward to working with Lisa.”

Thanks for Joining Us at the Meeting!

20 23

April 26 – 28, 2023

Attending TVA’s Annual Meeting is a must for those who wish to stay updated with industry information and make connections. For those who attended in-person in Miami, Florida or connected virtually from all over the world, the meeting, according to Tim DeJarnette with the Strong Company, Inc. is, “The best opportunity to learn from and be inspired by our peers.”

Lance Moodley, Palabora Europe, agreed. “The Annual Meeting is a nice opportunity to enhance relationships with key stakeholders in the vermiculite industry.”

Besides the informative sessions, the Annual Meeting, that was held April 26-28, featured important industry updates, including a session from our mining members. There was also an array of valuable networking opportunities for participants.

Having the opportunity to partake in industry conversations is an incredibly valuable experience for many, including David Foo, Palabora Asia, who said, “TVA’s Annual Meetings are a great opportunity for relationship building, which leads to better cooperation and collaboration in our common cause for the betterment of the global vermiculite business.

“Overall, the meeting was a good exchange forum for paving the way forward for increased cooperation and collaboration. It is good to work together as responsible miners with future-ready key deliverables for global customer demand, markets expectation, best practice standards and regulatory requirements,” he added.

Plans are already underway for next year’s Annual Meeting. It will be TVA’s 75th. If you have any suggestions or want to get involved with planning, please contact Director of Conferences and Events Lori Zelesko at events@vermiculite.org.

Message from the President

by Jeffrey Sheehy, Sr.

I would like to personally thank everyone who attended either inperson or virtually TVA’s 74th Annual Meeting in Miami. We had one of the best attended meetings in recent years. I felt that all the speaker presentations were very informative and had valuable information we can all use daily as we manage our businesses. For the first time since our 2014 Park City Utah meeting, we organized a mining update session. The mines are the lifeblood of our industry; and it is my hope that we continue with updates every other year going forward.

I would like to thank Matt Goecker and Jim Juron for stepping up to serve another term on the Board of Directors. Also, a big thank you to Ned Gumble for taking the time out of his schedule to monitor the proposed EPA Recordkeeping and Recording requirements and giving us his update at the meeting. And I want to thank everyone who helped organize the meeting, including our staff, for all their efforts. I also want to extend sincere appreciation to our meeting sponsor, Tim DeJarnette and The Strong Company, for their ongoing financial support.

Next April, we will be holding our 75th anniversary meeting which we hope to make very special. Please share your ideas and suggestions for speakers, session topics or special events at the meeting; and I hope you will consider being an Annual Meeting sponsor. You can reach out to TVA’s Director of Conferences and Events Lori Zelesko at events@vermiculite.org, any member of the Board of Directors or myself with your feedback.

I hope everyone has an enjoyable and safe summer.

Jeffrey Sheehy, Sr.

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

Immediate Past President

Tim DeJarnette

The Strong Company, Pine Bluff, Ark. 870-535-7617

timdejarnette@strongseal.com

Term expires 2024

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

From the Desk of Your Technical Consultant

The latest news, observations and insights into the world of vermiculite

by Mike Darling

United States News

EPA struggles to ban asbestos, other chemicals years after Congress granted new powers

This story follows up on the theme we explored in the Summer 2022 Newsletter under the title: “Will the USA have a much more robust approach to the importation and consumption of asbestos and asbestos containing products by year end 2022?”

Timothy Puko of the Washington Post had the following to say as of February 19:

More than 30 years after the Environmental Protection Agency first tried to ban asbestos — and failed under court challenge — the agency is trying again. Industry is still fighting it. This time, President Biden’s administration is working with greater authority from Congress to go after asbestos and 20 of the most toxic chemicals. But this new effort, too, has been hampered by legal questions, political fights, funding shortfalls and other bureaucratic delays.

Although Congress passed an overhaul of the Toxic Substances Control Act in 2016 with bipartisan support, the EPA has yet to finish one new rule under the law. The move to ban one of the last actively used forms of asbestos is the only proposal that could become a final rule by late this year. The grinding process has left health and safety advocates upset with how long the EPA is taking to carry out Congress’s effort to fix long-standing shortfalls in the country’s chemical regulations, itself a deal that took years of fighting to pass.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climateenvironment/2023/02/19/epa-struggles-ban-asbestos-otherchemicals-years-after-congress-granted-new-powers/

From the Desk of Your Technical Consultant

Xinjiang Mineral Exports Continue as [US] Enforcement Comes Into Focus

By: Edmund Xu and Robert Kim, of Kharon, a research and data analytics company.

January 25, 2023.

A vermiculite mining and processing company based in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) of China continued to export goods into the U.S. market months after the June 2022 enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). Reports of Xinjiangorigin products entering the U.S. — ranging from jujubes and cotton to automobile parts — have led U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to assess UFLPA evasion techniques used by Chinese entities and ways to better detect them at ports of entry. Vermiculite Shipments. Another Xinjiang product found to have been imported into the U.S. since the enforcement date of the UFLPA is vermiculite, a mineral with heat resistance and insulating properties with a wide variety of commercial applications. As recently as October 2022, Xinjiang Yuli Xinlong Vermiculite Co., Ltd. exported vermiculite to an American company in California. From 2017 to October 2022, the company purchased 8.9 million kilograms (8,900 metric tons) of vermiculite from Xinjiang Yuli, according to trade records reviewed by Kharon.

Indicators of Forced Labor

Xinjiang Yuli’s location and activities match several red flags listed by the U.S. Government in its 2021 Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory as indicators of forced labor risk. According to Chinese media reports, in 2020 Xinjiang Yuli accepted workers through Chinese government-sponsored labor transfers, a practice identified by the U.S. government as an involuntary and coercive relocation program targeting Muslim minority groups.

Links:

https://brief.kharon.com/updates/xinjiang-mineral-exportscontinue-as-enforcement-comes-into-focus

https://bit.ly/3DkpKk2

https://www.csis.org/analysis/responding-egregious-abusesxinjiang-latest-state-play

https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/126/20210713_xinjiang_ advisory_0.pdf

Significant change with the U.S. indigenous production of vermiculite

The Enoree mining operation (SvP website).

Throughout 2022 various rumours about problems at the Specialty Vermiculite mining and beneficiation plant operations at Enoree, in South Carolina (USA) began circulating.

In the January 2023 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Mineral Commodity Summary for Vermiculite, the following rather telling overview is given:

“Events, Trends, and Issues: In recent years, two companies mined crude vermiculite domestically; however, a company with operations in South Carolina did not expect to produce vermiculite in 2022. Data for U.S. exports and imports of vermiculite were combined with data for other mineral products by the U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. imports were estimated to be about 30,000 tons in 2022, a decrease that could be related to disruptions in the global supply chain. Most imports came from Brazil and South Africa in 2022. Historically, South Africa was the leading principal source of imports; however, in 2022, Brazil supplied more imports than South Africa.”

It is also interesting to note that USGS now provides an estimate of Chinese production of vermiculite; which is something they have up to recently not looked at.

Source: https://pubs.usgs.gov/ periodicals/mcs2023/mcs2023.pdf

From the Desk of Your Technical Consultant

Public comment period extended for Libby vermiculite settlement

Source: Montana Public Radio by Aaron Bolton February 17, 2023.

Montana environmental officials are extending the public comment period for an $18.5 million settlement with former Libby vermiculite mine operator W.R. Grace. The agreement aims to settle natural resource damage from asbestos contamination from the mine. Officials announced the settlement in early January and are now extending the comment period through March 15. Officials also plan to hold a public meeting in Libby on March 6.

Link: https://www.mtpr.org/montana-news/2023-02-17/ public-comment-period-extended-for-libby-vermiculitesettlement Bio-vermiculiteTM a

Are You Blogging?

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

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?

We are looking for people to share:

Construction

Horticulture

Industrial Best Practices

“Superior

performing, responsible replacement for mined Vermiculite”?

This rather eye-catching claim, and potential threat to the horticultural use of vermiculite, seems to diversify the whole new biochar revolution we have looked at recently.

It is claimed that: “not only is it a substitute for perlite and peat moss blends it outperforms vermiculite because of its superior physical and nutrient properties. And Bio-Vermiculite has a higher free air space facilitating the transport of air and water into the soil, it holds more water and supplies larger quantities of potassium and calcium nutrients. The calcium to magnesium ratio of the Bio-Vermiculite is 2.0 ideal for growth, compared with the low ratio of 0.7 impairing plant health in vermiculite. It is produced from pine residues superheated to over 900 °C for a pathogen-free renewable amendment”.

Link: https://www.biovermiculite.com/

Health, Safety and Environmental Topics

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

Check Out the Blog

Electron photomicrograph of Bio-vermiculiteTM

From the Desk of Your Technical Consultant

Growing media trends: Peat moss and other supply challenges continue to impact industry

From: Greenhouse Canada November 23, 2022.

By: Andrew Snook

Shortages of peat moss are discussed, but this is what Greenhouse Canada has to say about vermiculite and perlite:

Ingredient issues

Peat moss isn’t the only ingredient that’s been affected by global supply chain issues. The availability of perlite and vermiculite has also been impacted.

“While perlite hasn’t really been affected that much, because the supply is pretty good, vermiculite has been a bit more of a challenge. Both of those components are important for growing media. Perlite provides a lot of air space, which is something that growers want within the growing media to drain excess water and have better control over their fertigation practices,” de Champlain explains. “Vermiculite, especially for germinating, is a very important component. It helps keep the growing media moist around the seed, helps with germination, and helps retain nutrients to make those available to the young plants as they’re growing.”

For most growing media manufacturers in North America, the ores used to produce these components are sourced

overseas. Supply chain disruptions have had a significant impact, forcing companies to think outside the box and be inventive. For example, to help counter these issues, Berger has been using more locally available ingredients such as wood fibre. To make them much less dependent on the overseas supply chain.

Link: https://www.greenhousecanada.com/growingmedia-trends/

Soilless Growing Mediums

Authors: Dharti Thakulla, Bruce Dunn, & Bizhen Hu of the Oklahoma State University

This online reference document, whilst hardly new, still has a good look at the history of growing mediums including vermiculite and perlite—as well as their characteristics—and an overview of the most popular hydroponic growing media. It is definitely worth taking a look at.

Link: https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/print-publications/hla/soillessgrowing-mediums-hla-6728.pdf

From the Desk of Your Technical Consultant

Mining News

Afrimat upbeat about bulk commodities business, as construction materials business lags

Uganda to set up state mining firm, take equity in licences

February 17, 2023 by

Schalk Burger (Cremer Media Senior Contributing Editor).

Excerpt from the above article: Further, the company's new Glenover project is a future minerals business that sits with three strategic minerals on the same site, namely phosphate, rare earth minerals and vermiculite.

"Phosphate is quite scarce in South Africa and is a component of fertiliser. We also underestimated demand for vermiculite and the market is bigger than we expected. We think overall it is a good business that will be exciting going forward," said Van Heerden.

Additionally, Afrimat has completed the first stage of the first phase by producing phosphate rock. The important next part is to build the single super phosphate (SSP) plant, which is in the construction phase and is expected to be up and running by July or August, he said.

"The important first parts are the SSP and vermiculite plants. The phases after this will look into nitrophosphate aspects of the project, with some interesting alternatives having emerged over the past few months. We also expect to continuously improve as we get deeper into optimisation.

"The rare earth projects will lag a bit behind these other projects, but have good strategic value," he added.

Further insight into this can be found here.

This report by Chronux Research Pty. Ltd., in South Africa looks at Afrimat’s various interests and makes some interesting production and financial forecasts for the Glenover vermiculite deposit with annual production expected to quickly reach 30,000 tpa.

From Mining.com. February 21, 2023.

The Ugandan government has started to set up a national mining company that will aim to take equity stakes of up to 15% of all medium and large-scale mining operations in the country, the minister for energy and minerals said on Tuesday.

Ugandan geologists say the country has large deposits of a range of minerals including gold, cobalt, copper, iron ore, rare earths, vermiculite and phosphates. The country also aims to start pumping crude oil in 2025 from fields in its west. Establishing a state-owned mining firm and commercial state participation in the sector are part of wide-ranging reforms under a new mining law enacted last year.

The new company will be called Uganda National Mining Company (UNMC), Minister Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu said in a statement:

“State equity participation will be in medium and large-scale mining of up to 15% participatory equity interest at no cost to the government,” she said. The state-owned firm will help the government get as much value as possible from minerals, Ssentamu said. She did not say when the government would complete setting up the company.

Link: https://www.mining.com/web/uganda-to-setup-state-mining-firm-take-equity-in-licenses/

Quite what this change in mining law in Uganda might make to our member Namekara Mining Company Ltd., is uncertain at the moment.

Update on Afrimat, and the Glenover Phosphate deposit in South Africa.

From the Desk of Your Technical Consultant

Inside Govt., plan to revive lucrative mining industry From the Monitor (Kampala, Uganda)

Wednesday, February 22, 2023.

The government plans to rekindle and refocus the country’s multi-billion mining industry through the proposed Uganda National Mining Company (UNMC), the statutory body that will hold commercial interests in all active mineral licenses.

The recalibration of the mining sub-sector and establishment of the UNMC, are among the major highlights of the Mining and Mineral Act 2022, which was assented to by President Museveni in October last year and gazetted in late December. UNMC will hold 15 percent free equity in all large and medium mining ventures, as well as have the right to pay up to 20 percent extra shares in the mining ventures at the commercial rate.

Link: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/inside-govt-plan-to-revive-lucrative-mining-industry-4132912

Significant deposit of rare earth metals discovered in Finnish Lapland

February 17, 2023

Sokli, a mineral deposit in Savukoski, Eastern Lapland, contains much greater amounts of rare earth metals than previously thought.

Finnish Minerals Group, the state-owned company that owns Sokli, on Thursday revealed that its scoping study indicates that the deposit could produce a minimum of 10 percent of all rare earth metals required annually for permanent magnet production in Europe.

In addition to iron, phosphate and rare earth metals, the deposit contains niobium, hafnium, tantalum, manganese, vermiculite, zircon, copper, silver and uranium.

https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/ domestic/22982-significant-deposit-of-rare-earth-metalsdiscovered-in-finnish-lapland.html

Editors’ note: The Sokli carbonatite complex is well documented. It is one of the world’s largest carbonatite intrusions, with four complexes, syenites, fenites. It is part of the Kola Alkaline Province (KAP) which covers an area of approximately 100,000 km2, which includes the Kovdor area in Russia. It comprises five stages of intrusions of

phoscorites and carbonatites. The overall outline of this complex is a vertical pipe of about 6.4 km in diameter on the surface.

It has previously been studied for phosphate and niobium exploitation (estimated 100,000 t of niobium). However, little is documented about the vermiculite prospects.

Photomicrograph in Plane Polarized Light (PPL) of Phlogopite mica (light brown), calcite, apatite and magnetite crystals (black opaque) in a carbonatite from the Sokli carbonatite complex. (Field of view = 7mm). Please see: https://www.alexstrekeisen.it/english/pluto/ sokli.php

From the Desk of Your Technical Consultant

Practical Tips for Your Business to Choose the Right 4GV Packaging

(And uses vermiculite as the cushioning and absorbent packing material!).

4GV packaging has become a staple for shipping companies in ensuring the safe and compliant delivery of risky goods or hazardous materials, both solid and liquid. 4GV is an alternative or a variant of the 4G packaging, also known as variation 2, which many businesses are opting for in recent times. Using 4GV packaging ensures that their varieties in inner receptacles can carry and deliver products of diverse sizes and forms. But, like many other standard packagings, there are duplicates and inadequate materials found in the market. Make sure you use the UN-approved packaging to wrap the goods and the correct absorbent materials inside the bag.

Link: https://goodmenproject.com/businessethics-2/practical-tips-for-your-business-tochoose-the-right-4gv-packaging/

Herpetology News

About 60 hatchlings of black mambas, brown house snakes, spotted bush snakes and vine snakes documented

March 28, 2023. By IOL: Independent Online, popularly known as IOL, is one of South Africa’s leading news and information websites bringing millions of readers breaking news and updates.

The adventures of Durban (South Africa) snake catcher Nick Evans and some great images of vermiculite being used as an incubation media!

Link: https://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/pics-about-60hatchlings-of-black-mambas-brown-house-snakes-spottedbush-snakes-and-vine-snakes-documented-5bb3307b-4d974f98-9303-1c33afe1d55d

A Culture of Confidence

By Jeff Tippett

The best way to sustain accountability at work is to create a culture that encourages it. This culture shift starts by helping new team members buy into accountability. Stand by your work; be proud of accomplishments; applaud significant decisions; and nurture a mindset shift in your office by celebrating success instead of overreacting to failure.

Building a farm team of future leaders fills the future roles that pay off down the line. The best way to do that is through delegation and empowering your team members to accomplish more.

Delegation serves many functions. For one, it lessens the burden of over committing yourself. As we have discussed before, the higher you climb, the more your work moves away from technical skills and toward people management. You must have the bandwidth to lead everyone effectively. Your bandwidth flounders when you are mired in menial tasks.

This commitment to delegation also promotes accountability throughout the team. The best way to keep someone accountable is to consistently give straightforward, discrete tasks and determine whether they completed them satisfactorily. Increasing autonomy is almost always preferable. Coupling autonomy with delegation is a recipe for a successful workforce. This gives people creative space to accomplish their projects their way while maintaining metrics and accountability to ensure that everything is completed.

Empowering others is critical to developing future leaders. People will not be prepared to take on more responsibility in the workplace if they have never been held responsible in the organization. This is a practical way to determine who is the best prepared for future roles and elucidates far more than any interview or written response might yield.

Finally, to empower others through delegation, help people push their comfort level limits. Folks grow by entering uncharted territory. You don’t learn by repeating the same things day in and day out. Delegation allows you to test your team’s limits while keeping them accountable to their expectations. Growth can only come through more freedom and responsibility.

Empathy is our next trait. Psychologists define three significant types of empathy:

• Cognitive empathy is related to putting yourself in someone else’s shoes; it is also referred to as perspective-taking.

• Emotional empathy is a connection with someone who makes you feel close to them, as in an interpersonal relationship. You “feel their pain” because of how close you are.

• Compassionate empathy is the most prevalent. It’s that primary emotion with which you can relate to someone else’s plight.

Continued on next page...

For our purposes, empathy in a leader is understanding the way other people think. Not just because you can predict their next move, like a chess player, but because you know how they see the world, informing how you interact with them. Understanding people is one of the most valuable traits a leader can possess.

Empathy is a term that is often tossed around, but we rarely think about how it affects the way we operate. Empathy is essential for leaders because we know that everyone is not the same. Every person has an ownness that makes them who they are. Tapping into that is going to render the optimal results. This level of understanding cannot be done in passing. You have to want to understand what it is like to be in the other person’s shoes. And it’s not about how you would feel in their shoes—it’s about appreciating how they feel in their own shoes.

This concept is also crucial in your decision-making. When you make a final decision, there will likely be someone who feels that their opinion was discredited or went unconsidered. You must practice empathy when turning people down or pursuing different ideas than what they offer. Let people know you value their input and want them to continue offering their thoughts. Although not every idea is a winner, encouraging your team’s creativity will spawn a pipeline of brilliant ideas in the future.

Empathy is a skill you likely use frequently in a successful personal life. You must be empathetic with your family, partner, children–anyone you value and want to keep close. Extend this skill to the workplace! Put yourself in a team member’s place and consider why and how they do what they do. It will improve your work environment.

Putting all of these pieces together, let’s conclude with this: believe in the people around you. See the best in them. There’s a reason these people are on your team. Workplaces have camaraderie; build upon it.

So many of the issues we face are challenges because of a mindset that has us stuck. Sometimes the daily grind makes us lose sight of why we started working in the field we love. We lose sight of those around us. Even on the worst days, practice empathy and see the good in others. Some days, the work will be challenging.

But a good leader buoys the team. Believing that we’re all inherently good people and are trying to do our best goes a long way, and it’s worth reminding yourself now and again.

Encourage people when they succeed and celebrate success. People can go weeks in their job doing good work but never feel acknowledged for it. Maintain a positive work atmosphere so that everyone feels valued. Just because you know that you appreciate everyone doesn’t mean they know it.

You have the tools you need to make a successful workplace. It starts at the top. Remember, the buck stops with you. Ultimately, you’re responsible for ensuring that those around you are confident that you’re trustworthy. But if you do the work, that will never be an issue.

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.

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In 2014, Jeff founded Targeted Persuasion, an award-winning 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.

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Jefftippett.com

VictoryByAssociation.com

Technical Papers

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

Investigation on Long-Term Stability of Vermiculite Seals for Reversible Solid Oxide Cell or Click Here

Authors: Ruizhu Li, Yue Lu, Yutian Yu, Xianzhi Ren, Feng Ding, Chengzhi Guan, & Jianqiang Wang.

Published in: Molecules 2023, 28(3). February 2, 2023.

Abstract: A reversible solid oxide cell (RSOC) integrating solid oxide fuel (SOFC) and a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) usually utilizes compressive seals. In this work, the vermiculite seals of various thickness and compressive load during thermal cycles and long-term operation were investigated. The leakage rates of seals were gradually increased with increasing thickness and input gas pressure. The thinner seals had good sealing performance. The compressive load was carried out at thinner seals, the possible holes were squeezed, and finally the leakage rates were lower. With a fixed input gas pressure of 1 psi, 2 psi, and 3 psi, the leakage rates of 0.50 mm vermiculite remained at around 0.009 sccm/ cm, 0.017 sccm/cm and 0.028 sccm/cm during twenty thermal cycles, while the leakage rates remained at around 0.011 sccm/cm for about 240 h. Simultaneously, elemental diffusions between seals and components were limited, implying good compatibility. Furthermore, the open circuit voltage (OCV) remained at around 1.04 V during 17 thermal cycles, which is close to Nernst potentials. The stack performance confirmed that the vermiculite seals can meet the structural support and sealing requirements. Therefore, the vermiculite shows good promise for application in stacks during thermal cycles and long-term operation.

The Expanded Vermiculite Was Quickly Prepared by the Catalytic Action of Manganese Dioxide on Hydrogen Peroxide and Its Adsorption Properties to Cd or Click Here

Authors: Yunzhu Chen, Hongjuan Sun, Tongjiang Peng, Tongxi Gao, Wenjin Ding, Tao Hui, & Lei Jiang.

Published in: Molecules 2023, 28, 817: January 13, 2023.

Abstract: The structure and activity of vermiculite can be maintained by expanding vermiculite (Vrm) with hydrogen peroxide. However, it is time-consuming. In past studies, little attention has been paid to the catalytic properties of manganese dioxide on hydrogen peroxide to improve the swelling efficiency of vermiculite. In this experiment, this catalytic effect was utilized to swell Vrm in a short time. The samples were then used to adsorb Cd from the solution. Through a series of characterization tests. The results showed that the exothermic rate was 1960.42–2089.164 J/min and the total exothermic heat was 39,208.4–41,783.28 J when expanding 10 gVrm, which could have a good expansion effect. The expansion was completed in about 40 min. Compared with Vrm, the adsorption of Cd is enhanced by about 30%. It is consistent with the proposed secondary kinetic adsorption model. This study provides a new perspective and theoretical guidance for improving the efficiency of Vrm stripping by hydrogen peroxide. A kind of expanded Vrm with better Cd adsorption efficiency was also prepared.

An Alternative to Vermiculite: Composting on Tropical Islands Using Coral Sand to Enhance Nitrogen Retention during Ventilation or Click Here

Authors: Peng Cheng, Liqun Jiang, Rui Shan, Zhen Fang, Nianfang Ma, Lianwu Deng, Yaoquan Lu, Xiangping Tan, Weijun Shen, & Rongrong Liu.

Published in: Fermentation 2022, 8(10). October 18, 2022.

Abstract: Reducing nitrogen loss during composting with forced ventilation was comprehensively investigated in this study. Coral sand was tailored in the co-composting in the co-composting of sludge and litters. The physicochemical results revealed that forced ventilation prolonged the thermophilic phase and accelerated the substrate decomposition. With the addition of 10% native coral sand, the amount of nitrogen loss decreased by 9.2% compared with the original group. The microbial community evaluation revealed that the effect of forced ventilation on colony abundance was significantly greater than that of adding coral sand. This study demonstrated that when composting on a tropical island, adding coral sand under forced ventilation was a viable solution for realizing sustainable development.

Technical Papers

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

Vermiculite proves a useful growing media additive for cultivation of softwood cuttings of pomegranate - Effect of media on softwood cuttings of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa

Authors: Nikunj V Parakhiya, Dr. MV Patel, Jay B Gami, & Harsh S Hathi.

Published in: The Pharma Innovation Journal, 2023; 12(1).

Accepted: December 5, 2022.

Abstract: An investigation was carried out on “Effect of media on soft wood cuttings of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa at College Farm, College of Horticulture, S. D. Agricultural University, Jagudan, Gujarat, India during during 2020-2021. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) and replicated thrice with twelve treatments and each treatment having 20 cuttings. The treatments were; T1: Soil + Vermicompost (1:1), T2: Soil + FYM (1:1), T3: Soil + Vermiculite (1:1), T4: Sand + Vermicompost (1:1), T5: Sand + FYM (1:1), T6: Sand + Vermiculite (1:1), T7: Cocopeat + Vermicompost (1:1), T8: Cocopeat + FYM (1:1), T9: Cocopeat + Vermiculite (1:1), T10: Soil + Vermicompost + FYM + Vermiculite (1:1:1:1), T11: Sand + Vermicompost + FYM + Vermiculite (1:1:1:1) and T12: Cocopeat + Vermicompost + FYM +Vermiculite (1:1:1:1). Among different treatments, T11 [Sand + Vermicompost + FYM + Vermiculite (1:1:1:1)] exhibited minimum days taken for first sprout to appear (7.27 days), number of leaves per cutting at 90 and 120 days after planting of cutting (17.73 and 27.27, respectively), survival percentage of cutting at 120 days after planting (81.67%), shoot length at 120 days after planting (21.42 cm) and number of shoots per cutting at 120 days after planting (7.53). Substantial effect of treatment T11 [Sand + Vermicompost + FYM + Vermiculite (1:1:1:1)] was detected in root parameters viz., root length at 120 days after planting (19.29 cm), number of primary roots per cutting at 120 days after planting (32.27) and fresh weight of roots at 120 days after planting (4.02 g). The highest gross return ($1,225.00), net return ($376.67) and BCR (1.44) were recorded with treatment T11 [Sand + Vermicompost + FYM + Vermiculite (1:1:1:1)]. Hence, treatment T11 [Sand + Vermicompost + FYM + Vermiculite (1:1:1:1)] proved its upper class amongst other treatments in the terms of shoot and root parameters and economics in pomegranate cv. Bhagwa.

High Shear Processing of Expanded Vermiculite Filled Polymer Composites: Particle Size Effect on Flexible Composites

Authors: Mukaddes Sevval Cetin, Ozan Toprakci, Omer Suat Taskin, Abdullah Aksu & Hatice Aylin Karahan Toprakci.

Published in: Material Science Research India. December 2, 2022.

Abstract: Filler dispersion is an important issue for polymer-based composites. Fillers can be dispersed by melt or solution processing methods. Solutionbased mixing offers various combinations including ultrasonication, mechanical stirring, or high shear mixing. Planetary high shear mixing is a simple method with high dispersion performance. Dispersion and wetting of the fillers are provided by not only planetary shear movement of the mixer but also by the decrease in viscosity of the polymer phase because of high shear. Although that is advantageous for the dispersion of nanofillers, it might be challenging for the particles that have morphology with loosely bonded layers. To observe the effects of high shear mixing on expanded vermiculite (VMT) filled styrene-[ethylene-(ethylene-propylene)]styrene (SEEPS) flexible composites, two different VMTs were used with different particle sizes at various VMT ratios from 1 to 30 wt%. Morphological, structural, thermal, mechanical properties, flame spread character of the composites, and viscosity of the solutions were analyzed. From morphological analysis, high shear mixing was found to be effective in terms of decreasing particle size and filler dispersion. While mechanical properties showed decrease, thermal stability, and flame retardancy of the composites increased. Continued on next page...

Technical Papers

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

Analysis of the Impact of Vermiculite on HematiteBased Cement Systems

Authors: Abdulmalek Ahmed, Stephen Adjei, & Salaheldin Elkatatny.

Published in: ACS Omega (American Chemical Society)

8, 4: January 14, 2023.

Abstract: Heavyweight oil-well cement systems are designed for isolating intervals and supporting the casing at deeper depths where high temperatures and pressures are encountered. The cement slurry should have adequate rheology to ensure efficient placement. Additionally, the hardened cement sheath should be homogeneous with lower porosity and permeability, higher strength, and sufficient flexibility. The effect of vermiculite on hematite-based cement samples has been investigated. The methodology and testing were based on the American Petroleum Institute standards and other recognized recommendations. Fluid properties were characterized by their rheology, while petrophysical and mechanical properties were used to analyze the properties of hardened cement specimens. The vermiculite was used in concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2% by weight of cement (BWOC). The slurries were cured at 3000 psi and 292 °F in cubic and cylindrical molds for 24 h. The results indicate that using 1% BWOC of vermiculite yields the best cement properties. It minimizes the settling of hematite particles to a very low value compared to the base cement as shown by the method of density variation and confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance. Compared to the base cement slurry, the slurry of 1% BWOC of vermiculite has desirable rheology in terms of plastic viscosity and gel strength. The incorporation of 1% BWOC improves the strength of the cement sheath by 50.7% for the compressive strength and 65% for the tensile strength. Adding 1% vermiculite reduces the permeability and porosity of the cement by 45.8 and 43.5% compared to the control cement. In addition, the 0.7% vermiculite cement is more flexible than the control cement in terms of the elastic properties represented by lower Young's modulus (a reduction of 33%) and higher Poisson's ratio (an increase of 2%).

Carbon nanosheets prepared with a vermiculite template for high-performance lithium-ion batteries via space-confined carbonization strategy or Click Here

Authors: Hui Guo, Zhenshuai Wang, Baolin Xing, Huihui Zeng, Ruiqin Gao, Guangxu Huang, Jianbo Jia, Yijun Cao, & Chuanxiang Zhang.

Published in: Journal of Alloys and Compounds. Volume 933, February 5, 2023.

Abstract: Carbon nanosheets (CNSs) having both graphite microcrystalline layers and amorphous carbon structures are prepared by a space-confined carbonization strategy using glucose, sucrose and starch as carbon sources which are inserted into the confined space of vermiculite templates by liquidphase impregnation intercalation. The microstructures of CNSs are strongly depended on the molecular weight of carbon precursors. In the Starch-CNSs synthesized from starch with larger molecular weight, single nanosheets contain more ordered graphite microcrystalline layers and fewer microporous defects as well as richer oxygen-containing functional groups, and the disordered stacking of single nanosheets form more mesoporous structures. The specific surface area and nanosheets thickness of Starch-CNSs are 400 m2·g−1 and 3.934 nm. Starch-CNSs as anode for lithium-ion batteries exhibit excellent lithium storage properties, combining initial Coulombic efficiency (56 %), high specific capacity (637mAh/g at 0.05 A/g), excellent rate performance (253 mAh/g at 2 A/g) and cycling stability (262 mAh/g at 2 A/g after 500 cycles). These results show the CNSs derived from larger molecular weights outperform these from lower counterparts, providing strong evidence and reference for selecting suitable molecular weight carbon precursors to prepare high-performance CNSs anode for lithium ion batteries.

Technical Papers

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

Facile Synthesis of Two-Dimensional Natural Vermiculite Films for HighPerformance Solid-State Electrolytes or Click Here

Authors: Yan Xing, Xiaopeng Chen, Yujia Huang, Xiali Zhen, Lujun Wei, Xiqiang Zhong & Wei Pan.

Published in: Materials 2023, 16, 729. January 11, 2023.

Abstract: Ceramic electrolytes hold application prospects in all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASSLB). However, the ionic conductivity of ceramic electrolytes is limited by their large thickness and intrinsic resistance. To cope with this challenge, a twodimensional (2D) vermiculite film has been successfully prepared by self-assembling expanded vermiculite nanosheets. The raw vermiculite mineral is first exfoliated to thin sheets of several atomic layers with about 1.2 nm interlayer channels by a thermal expansion and ionic exchanging treatment. Then, through vacuum filtration, the ion-exchanged expanded vermiculite (IEVMT) sheets can be assembled into thin films with a controllable thickness. Benefiting from the thin thickness and naturally lamellar framework, the as-prepared IEVMT thin film exhibits excellent ionic conductivity of 0.310 S·cm−1 at 600 ◦C with low excitation energy. In addition, the IEVMT thin film demonstrates good mechanical and thermal stability with a low coefficient of friction of 0.51 and a low thermal conductivity of 3.9 × 10−3 W·m−1 ·K −1. This reveals that reducing the thickness and utilizing the framework is effective in increasing the ionic conductivity and provides a promising stable and low-cost candidate for high-performance solid electrolytes.

Characterization of Spanish River Carbonatite (SRC) for agricultural fertilizer or Click Here

Authors: Valladares, L., Kooyip, J., Borja-Castro, L., Valerio-Cuadros, M., Valencia-Bedregal, R., Velazquez-Garcia, J., Aguilar, C.

Published in: Hyperfine Interactions Volume 243, Article number: 19 (2022).

Abstract: Carbonatite is an igneous rock that is composed mainly of carbonate minerals and silicates. It is recently applied as fertilizer due to its high content of calcite and dolomite. This study presents a physical and chemical characterization of the Spanish River Carbonatite (SRC) and its application as fertilizer is tested. The chemical composition obtained by X-ray fluorescence and Energy Dispersive X-ray analyses indicates that Ca, Fe and Si are the main contained elements. Calcite and SiO2 are the principal mineralogical phases as detected by X-ray diffraction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirms the presence of calcite, silicates and also organic material and water. It also suggests the presence of vermiculite. Thermal analysis reveals only a one-step reaction that corresponds to the decomposition of calcite. Mössbauer spectroscopy performed at room temperature do not show magnetic order between the iron moments instead it shows Fe2+ and Fe3+ doublets in M1 and M2 octahedral sites belonging to vermiculite. At 50 K, we observe that the isomer shift increases their values due to the second order Doppler shift. SQUID magnetometry measurements reveal that most of the sample contains paramagnetic domains assigned to the silicates and calcite components. However, under low applied fields, a tiny signal for Verwey transition appears at 124 K (suggesting the presence of magnetite) although screened by the strong paramagnetic signal of the main components. The SRC has been tested as potential fertilizer on sweet cucumber (Solanum muricatum) which responded positively to the application to carbonatite as an amendment, expressing itself in high foliar biomass.

Note: This carbonatite which is located in Northern Ontario has been extensively used as an agricultural fertilizer for quite a number of years. There is vermiculite associated with it, and of particle size up to 6mm. There seems to be no commercial exploitation of this though. The vermiculite is grouped in with quarter of the total mineral assemblage comprising biotite mica, pyroxene and vermiculite. The following monograph produced by the Ontario Geological Survey- Study 30 - Geology of Carbonatite - Alkalic Rock Complexes in Ontario- Spanish River Carbonatite Complex by R.P. Sage and dated 1987 provides an interesting read on this matter. Prospecting for tin as well as rare-earth minerals and apatite demonstrated the occurrence of vermiculite in studies in the 1950’s and early 1960’s although the successful commercial exploitation seems doubtful.

This monograph can be accessed here

Technical Papers

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

Hydrothermal synthesis of a novel expanded vermiculite/xonotlite composite for thermal insulation

Authors: Xiaoben Wang, Jinpeng Feng, Jiann-Yang Hwang, Tianya Dai, Shuhan Liu, Zhenjiang Wu, Wei Mo, & Xiujuan Su.

Published in: Construction and Building Materials. Volume 367, February 27, 2023.

Abstract: Natural disasters caused by global warming are threatening the survival of mankind. Reducing carbon emissions is an effective way to prevent global warming. In recent years, the construction industry is playing a dominant role in global energy consumption. Aimed to solve the problem of high energy consumption in the construction industry, a novel expanded vermiculite/xonotlite thermal insulation composite was successfully prepared via the hydrothermal method. The microstructure and thermal performance of the composite were systematically analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), laser flash analysis (LFA), and infrared thermal imaging. The test results indicated that xonotlite fibers could be inserted well into the interlayers of expanded vermiculite. And the intercalation of xonotlite greatly improved the thermal insulation performance of expanded vermiculite at high temperature. The thermal conductivity of this composite decreased with intercalation rate increasing. The composite with intercalation rate of 51.43 % had the lowest thermal conductivity of 0.2116 W/ mK at 800 °C which was 55.36 % lower than the expanded vermiculite sample. Meanwhile, this composite had good thermal stability and high temperature resistance. In addition, the thermal expansion of vermiculite and the synthesis of nano-xonotlite fibers were comprehensively studied and discussed. This study will provide a new perspective and ideas for developing vermiculite-based thermal insulating materials.

Two-dimensional porous vermiculite-based nanocatalysts for synergetic catalytic therapy or Click Here

Authors: Yichu Nie, Wei Chen, Yong Kang, Xue Yuan, Yongjiang Li, Jun Zhou, Wei Tao, & Xiaoyuan Ji.

Published in: Biomaterials Volume 295. January 28, 2023.

Abstract: This study reports an ultrasound-mediated and two-dimensional (2D) porous vermiculite nanosheets (VMT NSs)-based nanocatalyst platform (Arg@VMT@PDA-PEG) that synergistically harnessed the Fenton reaction-based chemodynamic therapy (CDT), 2D semiconductor-based sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and nitric oxide (NO)-based gas therapy for combination cancer therapy. The tumor microenvironment responsive degradation of polydopamine (PDA) shell could not only prevent L-Arg, a NO donor, leakage during blood circulation, but also selectively release the active sites of VMT NSs for catalytic reactions in tumor cells. Additionally, the Fenton reactions mediated by the abundant Fe2+/Fe3+ in VMT NSs could efficiently produce ·OH and consume glutathione (GSH) for CDT. Moreover, the reactive oxygen species (ROS, ·OH and ·O2-) produced by ultrasound-triggered Arg@VMT@PDA-PEG could not only execute SDT but also oxidize L-Arg to NO for synergetic gas therapy. The results show that the transformation of ROS to NO can enhance curative efficacy owing to the ability of NO with much longer life-time in freely diffusing into cells from intercellular space. This biodegradable Arg@VMT@PDA-PEG nanocatalytic platform integrating three different catalytic reactions provides a new therapeutic paradigm for combination cancer therapy.

Technical Papers

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

Data-driven vermiculite distribution modelling for UAV-based precision pest management or Click Here

Authors: Na Ma, Anil Mantri, Graham Bough, Ayush Patnaik, Siddhesh Yadav, Christian Nansen & Zhaodan Kong.

Published in: Frontiers in Robotics and AI. Volume 9, August 10, 2022.

Abstract: In recent decades, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have gained considerable popularity in the agricultural sector, in which UAV-based actuation is used to spray pesticides and release biological control agents. A key challenge in such UAV-based actuation is to account for wind speed and UAV flight parameters to maximize precision-delivery of pesticides and biological control agents. This paper describes a data-driven framework to predict density distribution patterns of vermiculite dispensed from a hovering UAV as a function of UAV’s movement state, wind condition, and dispenser setting. The model, derived by our proposed learning algorithm, is able to accurately predict the vermiculite distribution pattern evaluated in terms of both training and test data. Our framework and algorithm can be easily translated to other precision pest management problems with different UAVs and dispensers and for difference pesticides and crops. Moreover, our model, due to its simple analytical form, can be incorporated into the design of a controller that can optimize autonomous UAV delivery of desired amount of predatory mites to multiple target locations.

2D nanosheets of natural vermiculite clay - tuning the aptitude for exfoliation

Authors: Barbara Pacakova, Bera Lachtingen-Dahl, Hanna Demchenko, Paulo Henrique Michels Brito, Steinar Raaen, & Jon Otto Fossum.

Published in: Bulletin of the American Physical Society (APS) March Virtual Meeting 2023. To be read at 1:30pm, Tuesday, March 21, 2023. Las Vegas, Nevada (USA).

Abstract: Vermiculite, which is a nanolayered ionic material, belongs to the family of layered silicates. Negatively charged, 1 nm thin nanosheets are packed into compact crystallites, kept together by positive interlayer cations. The exfoliation ability of this material into the single sheets is low in comparison with smectite clays such as montmorillonite, as the surface charge of natural vermiculite clay is too high in comparison, reaching values between 0.7 – 1.

We present here efficient methods of exfoliation and delamination of vermiculite crystals into single nanosheets, and their physical properties.

More than 15 different types of vermiculite crystals from different places of origin have been tested. Delamination was mediated by selected (in) organic solvents, such as hydrogen peroxide or di-methyl formamide, and can be enhanced by applying mechanical force or increasing temperature during the delamination process. It is demonstrated that exfoliability of vermiculite is mainly driven by the type of interlayer cation, as has been verified by ex-situ and in-situ synchrotron x-ray diffraction and XPS measurements. Moreover, the dynamics of this process has been studied for selected vermiculite samples by the in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Compactness of delaminated vermiculite sheets was inspected by the AFM, demonstrating that single layer vermiculite sheets can have sizes up to several dozens of micrometers.

Further enhancement of the delamination process and its upscaling is discussed, showing that vermiculite 1 nm single nanosheets are promising material for combination with graphene and other (semi)conductive materials. Moreover, the potential this could allow for large-scale fabrication of novel 2D heterostructures by the self-assembly.

Technical Papers

a listing of literature about the use of vermiculite by Mike

Darling

Hydrothermally treated vermiculites: Ability to support products for CO2 adsorption and geological implications or Click Here

Authors: Celia Marcos, Ayoub Lahchich, & Pedro Alvarez-Lloret.

Published in: Applied Clay Science. Volume 232. February 2023.

Abstract: The proposal of this research was to obtain products with higher porosity and specific surface area than the raw vermiculite for its possible application as a support material for CO2 adsorption. In addition, it was proposed to analyze the possible geological implications of the products resulting from the hydrothermal treatment of vermiculites in relation to their genesis. Hydrothermal treatment in the presence of CO2, at low temperature and pressure conditions, was carried out in two vermiculites from Uganda and China, with different behavior to thermal exfoliation and microwave irradiation. The untreated and treated samples were characterized by several techniques: X-ray diffraction (XRD) for obtaining the mineral composition; thermogravimetry (TG - DTG) for analyzing the thermal behavior; and BET isotherms for obtaining textural parameters. In addition, the hydrothermal solutions were characterized by the pH and the measuring of the lixiviated elements with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Vermiculite can be a suitable support for CO2 adsorbents, based on the SBET and Qm values, and it is susceptible to carbonation. The hydrothermal treatment produced water loss in the expanded vermiculites by CO2 replacement; as consequence, amorphization occurred in the purer Ugandan sample, and vermiculitization occurred in the less pure sample from China. The vermiculitization process indicates that the geological origin of vermiculite may be hydrothermal from phlogopite.

Vermiculite as an Anti-Sag Additive for Water-Based Drilling Fluids

Authors: Salem Basfar, Ashraf Ahmed, Salaheldin Elkatatny, & Badr Bageri

Published in: Paper presented at the 56th U.S. Rock Mechanics/Geomechanics Symposium, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. June 2022. Paper Number: ARMA-2022-0934.

Abstract: Barite is widely used as a weighing material since it has several advantages such as high specific gravity, readily accessible, and environmentally benign. Even though, several difficulties with barite particle settling particularly at high-pressure high-temperature drilling operations and removal efficiency necessitate further investigation. The utilization of magnesium-aluminum-iron silicate (vermiculite) with its ecofriendly effect was studied in this work as an additive for improving the drilling fluid characteristics. Variable concentration of vermiculite was added to the water-based mud (WBM) to address the static and dynamic sag tendencies at 250 and 120 °F, respectively. Furthermore, the influence of vermiculite on rheological characteristics and filtration performance was studied under HPHT circumstances. The sagging experiments showed that adding 4 lb/bbl vermiculite improved the WBM stability properties by increasing the suspension capacity of barite particles. Also, this amount of vermiculite significantly enhanced the rheological characteristics as the plastic viscosity to yield point ratio (YP/PV) was increased from 1.6 to 2.5. The HPHT filtration showed that 4 lb/bbl decreased the filter cake thickness by 37.5% and reduced the filtrated volume by 39%.

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. 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.

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

Horticultural Vermiculite

Health, Safety and Environmental Aspects

Crystal Structure of Magnesium Vermiculite

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

Contact Us:

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Phone: 717-238-9902

Fax: 717-238-9985

Website: www.vermiculite.org

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Executive Director: Lisa Ruggiers

tva@vermiculite.org

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