title: Influence of a nickel smelter plant on the mineralogical composition of attic dust in the Tikveš Valley, Republic of Macedonia.
abstract: Mineral phases and their content were determined in attic dust samples collected from 27 houses in the Tikveš Valley, Republic of Macedonia. By using quantitative X-ray diffraction, the principal mineral phases were determined to be the serpentinite group (chrysotile, lizardite) and amphibole group of minerals (ribecite, tremolite, actinolite) present in the attic dust samples from this region which are not common constituents of urban dust. Strong correlations existed between these mineral phases in the dust and those in ores processed at a ferronickel smelter plant situated in this region. Spatial distributions of specific mineral phases were made and were consistent with wind directions and predicted deposition (60-70 %) of dust emitted from the metallurgical plant.
authors.affiliation: Goce Delčev University, Štip, Republic of Macedonia.
authors.forename: Blažo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boev
authors.forename: Trajče
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stafilov
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bačeva
authors.forename: Ajka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Šorša
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Boev
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole / Q000032:analysis; D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine / Q000032:analysis; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis*; D018843:Republic of North Macedonia; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole; D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine; D004391:Dust; D008903:Minerals; C030616:ferronickel; C046240:lizardite; C036431:ferroactinolite; D001194:Asbestos; C005846:tremolite; D009532:Nickel; D007501:Iron