Asbestos

Asbestos: Asbestos is a Commercial and Industrial Term Describing a group of Specific Silicate Minerals that Forms Bundles of Long, very thin Mineral Fibers. Contributing to Asbestos Formation is the Faulting and Fracturing of these Rocks with Increased Temperatures, Pressures, and the Presence of Water. Asbestos Products are still Widely used, especially in the Construction Industry.

Raw Materials: There are six types of Asbestos: Actinolite, Amosite, Anthophyllite, Crocidolite, Tremolite, and Chrysolite. The first five types are known as Amphiboles. Amphibolic Asbestos Fibers can Penetrate body Tissue, especially in the Lungs, and eventually Cause Tumors to develop.

The sixth type of Asbestos, Chrysotile: Known as a Serpentine. Its Fibers are much Softer and more Flexible than Amphibolic Asbestos, and they do less Damage to Body Tissue. All Six types of Asbestos are Composed of Long Chains of Silicon and Oxygen Atoms, Locked together with various Metals, such as Magnesium and Iron, to form the Whisker like Crystalline Fibers that Characterize this Mineral.

The Manufacturing Process: Asbestos deposits are found underground, and the ore is brought to the surface for Processing using Conventional Mining Practices. Chrysotile Asbestos is usually Found Near the Surface and can be Accessed with an Open Pit Mine. Other Asbestos Deposits are Found at Varying Depths and may require Tunnels as Deep as 900 ft (300 m) to Gain access.

Mining: Chrysoltile Asbestos Deposits are usually Located using a Magnetic Sensor called a Magnometer. This method relies on the fact that the Magnetic Mineral Magnetite is Often found near Asbestos Formations. Core Drillings are used to Pinpoint the Location of the Deposits and to Determine the size and purity of the Asbestos.

Separating: The ore Contains only about 10% Asbestos, which must be Carefully Separated from the Rock to avoid Fracturing the Very thin Fibers. The most common method of Separation is called Dry Milling. In this method, the Primary Separation is done in a Series of Crushing and Vacuum aspirating operations in which the Asbestos Fibers are Literally sucked out of the Ore.

Quality Control: The most common Grading system for Chrysotile Asbestos Fibers is called the Quebec Standard dry Classification method. This standard defines Nine Grades of Fibers from Grade 1, which is the Longest, to Grade 9, which is the shortest.

Health and Environmental Effects: It is now generally accepted that Inhalation of Asbestos Fibers can be associated with three Serious, and Often Fatal, Diseases. Two of these, Lung Cancer and Asbestosis, affect the Lungs, while the third, Mesothelioma, is a rare form of Cancer that affects the Lining of the Thoracic and Abdominal Cavities.

Although not everyone agrees with these Findings, Overall Concerns about the Potential adverse Health effects of Inhaling Asbestos Fibers have Led to Stricter Regulations on the amount of Airborne Asbestos allowable in the workplace.

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