Direct-on-Filter FTIR Spectroscopy to Estimate Calcite as A Proxy for Limestone ‘Rock Dust’ in Respirable Coal Mine Dust Samples

Application of fine, inert ‘rock dust’ (RD) to the surfaces in underground coal mines is a common method for mitigating dust explosion hazards. However, due its size, RD has potential contribute respirable mine (RCMD) concentration. Though component RCMD does not appear pose sort health hazards associated with other components such as crystalline silica, understanding relative abundance may be quite helpful evaluating and controlling primary sources. Given that products are frequently comprised high-purity limestone (i.e., primarily calcite mineral), serve suitable proxy measuring RD. To estimate mass percentage samples, this study demonstrates successful application direct-on-filter (DOF) Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Incidentally, DOF FTIR been focus recent efforts enable rapid measurement silica RCMD. Concurrent constituents thus logical next step, which can allow broader interpretation composition source contributions.