Recently, several types of naturally occurring fibrous amphiboles have been found in southern Nevada, including the regulated asbestos mineral actinolite, and the unregulated amphiboles winchite, magnesioriebeckite, and richterite in adjacent areas of Arizona, (Buck et al., 2013; Metcalf and Buck 2015). In the arid climate of the Mojave Desert in the southern Nevada region, people may be exposed to these fibers through both human activities as well as natural wind erosion (Goossens et al., 2012). Because of both anecdotal reports of malignant mesothelioma in young individuals in southern Nevada and the recent finding of naturally occurring asbestos in soil, dust and air near the Las Vegas metropolitan area, a need for communication with the citizens of Southern Nevada arose.
This site was created to provide an information sharing forum about the implications of an unusual occurrence of fibrous minerals in Southern Nevada for the citizens of Boulder City and Henderson.