ERIONITE IN SOUTH DAKOTA COMPARED WITH ERIONITE FROM CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY

In 1960, Deffeyes observed erionite in several western United States including South Dakota. Erionite is found in South Dakota within the Arikaree formation and Brule and Chadron members of the White River formation. Erionite from South Dakota formations have been compared mineralogically with the erionite from Tuzkoy, Sarihidir, and Karain villages of Cappadocia region of Turkey.

Representative samples have been collected from these formations. Samples were analyzed by using FESEM-EDS for morphology and elemental chemistry, powder XRD for precise mineralogical identification and percentages of mineral contents. Because of the small sample size required for electron microscopy, all samples were prepared twice for statistical significance. Verification analyses were performed at independent laboratories.

Turkish erionite has been known to induce mesothelioma, a deadly disease with no known cure. It is important to know the similarity of erionites between the two regions since human health and safety implications may be related to mineralogy and geochemistry.