Asbestos is a group of six fibrous minerals that occur naturally in metamorphic deposits located around the world.  Asbestos fibers are durable, strong, flexible, resistant to wear, they don’t burn, it is abundant and inexpensive to work with.

Of the hydrous magnesium silicate variety, the six types include tremolite asbestos, actinolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos, chrysotile asbestos, amosite asbestos and crocidolite asbestos.  Asbestos is a chemically inert mineral that is fire resistanct and does not conduct heat or electricity (making it a commonly used insulator), is insoluble and is without odor. Asbestos’ combination of properties made it a valuable resource, regularly used in buildings, automobiles, shipyards and a variety of household products.