The geochemical characterictics of talc produced in Turkey and its usage potential in cosmetic industry and pharmacology

Talk has a wide range of uses in ceramic, chemistry, paint and food industry. Additionally, because talc has a special mineralogical and chemical structure, it is also used in cosmetic industry and pharmacology. Talc is generally formed in ultramafic rocks and carbonatic sedimentary rocks, which contain dolomite and magnezite, fault and shear zones and this rocks contacts. The talc rezervs in Australia, Austria, Brazil, China, Finland, India, Italy, Japan, North Korea, Russia and USA are on the map. The little amount of the talc in the market is used in cosmetic industry and pharmacology. On the other hand the talc which requires the quality standarts of cosmetic industry and pharmacology is economically more valuable. Talc in Turkey was formed in alkaline and ultrabasic rocks in consequence of metamorphism or hydrothermal alteration. Every quality of talc exists in our country. The impure talcs in our contry is being cleaned with flotation and other methods to have high purity. The talc deposits ores in Turkey exist in Aydın , Balıkesir, Bolu, Eskişehir, Sakarya ve Sivas. The total talc reserve is 1.150.000 tons. The 106.000 tons of this reserve is proved reserve. The talc mining in this cities are active and the produced talc is generally used in paint and ceramic industry. The more valuable talcs which used in cosmetic and pharmacology, are imported. Beside, the talc which was produced in Aydın, was used in cosmetic industry after ore dressing in domestic market is known. On the other hand the high ore dressing costs of talc, the cosmetic industry demand is generally acquired from Egypt, the pharmacology demand is aquired from France and Germany. Talcs using standards of cosmetic industry and pharmacology are determined by international organizastions. CTFA Standarts for cosmetic industry and European Pharmacope, US Pharmacope, additionally some national pharmacopes are also used. Product quality assurance criteria separeted in two parts; performance criteria and health and safety criteria. Performance spesifications focus on the physical characteristics of the talc such as particle size, bulk density, color, brightness. These spesifications for customer requirements. Health and safety spesifications focus on the chemical purity and absence of potentially harmful microorganisms. Talc producers have to show that, their products are ensures these criteria. This study focused on talcs geochemical characters in terms of health and safety criteria, in Turkey(?). The relation between inhalation of talc and lung cancer, using talc in genital area and overian cancer, make up, stick deodorands or other semi-liquid products effects on health, these are the most discussed issues about talc. Additionally, directly getting talc in the both with pills or plorezis therapy are also very important issues. The chemical composition spesifications of talc used in cosmetic industry and pharmacology, has delimitations about As, Pb, Al, Ca, Fe, Mg and loss on ignition (LOI) ratios. Cosmetic talc consists of a minimum of 90% hydrated magnesium silicate, with remainder consisting of naturally associated minerals such as calcite, chlorite, dolomite, kaolin, and magnesite; it contains no detectable fibrous, amphibole minerals. Additionally specifications for cosmetic talc include 6.0% maximum (max) acid-soluble substances; 6.0% max LOI, As content must be <3 ppm, Pb content must be <20 ppm. Pharmacology spesifications recquires, maximum Fe content must be 0,25%, maxiumum Al content must be 0,2%, maxiumum Ca content must be 0,9%, maxiumum Pb content must be 10 ppm, 7.0% max loss on ignition and Mg content must be between 17-19,5%. In line with the purpose of this study, updated datas, about producers which are still active, have been taken from MİGEM, to define mineralogical composition and geochemical characterics of the talc, which is produced in Turkey. Producers in Aydın-Bozdoğan, Kütahya-MerkezveTavşanlı and Sivas-Hafik was contacted and samples were provided. Results of optical microscopy analysis, XRD analysis and chemical analysis vas were evaluated according to CTFA Standarts for cosmetic use, Europeans Pharmacope for pharmacologic use. Content of naturally associated minerals in the samples, such as dolomite, calcite, magnezite, chlorite ratios is are under 5%. Presence of these minerals and their ratios are suitable according to standards. All samples are recquiring the term, not including fibrous amphibol minerals for cosmetic use. According to geochemical analysis, except Kütahya-Merkez KM1 and KM2 samples, As ratio is under limit value (3 ppm). Looking from the viewpoint of lead, Pb content of Aydın-Bozdoğan, Sivas-Hafik and Kütahya-Tavşanlı <0,7 ppm. The Kütahya –Merkez samples Pb contens are 7,8 and 9,7 ppm, and all this results are under the limit value (20 ppm) for cosmetic use. Loss on ignition (LOI) ratio must be <6% for cosmetic use. Analysis results are between 4,5% (sample A1) and 7% (sample KT2A), and every talc mining areas have samples above the limit value 6%. According to total heavy metal content results, because of the contrubition of Ni, Co partially Cu and V contents, all samples values above the limit values. Results of analysis are also evaluated for pharmacologic use. All samples are including serpantine group of asbestos and antigotire minerals. The S5 and S6 samples are including less amount of antigorite minerals than other samples. Additionally, A3 and A4 samples are including an other serpantine group of asbestos, lizardite. XRD results also shows, all samples includig antigorite except A1, A2 and S6. It has higher probability, A1, A2 and S6 can reach recquired mineral composition with ore dressing. All results are considered with spesifications in European Pharmacopea. There is not any value in EP about As element. The As should not be in farmachologic talc, unlike cosmetic recquirements. All samples As contents are under the dedection limit, A3, KM1, KM2 and. S3. Only Kütahya – Merkez samples have high results, other As contents are close to limit. Looking from the viewpoint of lead, Pb content of Aydın-Bozdoğan, Sivas-Hafik ve Kütahya-Tavşanlı <0,7 ppm, ratio of Kütahya –Merkez samples are 7,8 and 9,7 ppm, and all this results are under the limit value (10 ppm) for pharmacologic use. Loss on ignition (LOI) ratio must be <7% for pharmacologic use. Analysis results are between 4,5% (sample A1) and 7% (sample KT2A), and every ore has samples above the limit value 6%. Looking from the viewpoint of Al, Ca, Fe and Mg, excluding samples of Aydın-Bozdoğan, all other samples Al ratios are under the limit value 2%. Excluding samples of Kütahya -KT2 ve Sivas-S5, all other samples Ca ratios are under the limit value 0,90%. Excluding samples of Sivas- S3, S4 ve S6, all other samples Fe ratios are above the limit value (0,25%). Especially samples of Kütahya-Merkez and Kütahya – Tavşanlı have very high ratios, 3-4 times greater than limit value. Looking from the viewpoint of Mg ( limit values; %17 Mg, %28,19 MgO), Mg ratios of samples KM1, KM2, KT2 ve KT2A are under the lower limit value. On the other hand all other samples Mg ratios are between the limit interval.