Eagle. Be really neat if you read something about that stuff called "asbestos" before you talk about it.
Asbestos is a misnomer as you will see in the following article:[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]
CHRYSOTILE [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]“Asbestos” by itself is not a proper mineral name. “Asbestos” is the commercial term applied to a group of silicate minerals that readily separate into thin, strong fibres that are flexible, heat resistant, and chemically inert. Qualities such as fire resistance, electrical resistance and tensile strength make these silicate minerals excellent for uses ranging from brake linings in cars and aircraft to pipes for water and sewer systems.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]For commercial and historical reasons, the term “asbestos” includes six different mineral fibres. These fibres fall into two mineralogical categories, namely, amphibole and serpentine. [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]The amphibole category comprises five mineral fibres, none of which are produced in Canada. The serpentine category comprises only one mineral fibre, which is called chrysotile. Chrysotile is the only fibre produced in, and exported from, Canada. Because of its many practical qualities, chrysotile makes up about 99% of world “asbestos” production and trade today.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] In recent years, “asbestos” has come under close scrutiny as a potential health hazard. Most of these health hazards come from the past use of amphibole asbestos and from inappropriate practices such as sprayed-on insulation. These practices have been discontinued in Canada since the 1970s. Worldwide, the main varieties of amphibole asbestos used commercially are crocidolite (blue asbestos) and amosite (brown asbestos).[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] Chrysotile is in a different class of silicate minerals. Scientific evidence has demonstrated that it can be used safely at low levels of exposure (approximately 1 f/ml). Regulations have been developed and are enforced rigorously to control exposure to chrysotile dust.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] In Canada, chrysotile occurs as veins within deposits of igneous rocks rich in iron and magnesium. The veins of chrysotile may vary from hairline size to 10 cm in width, although most are less than 1 cm wide.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] In Canada, chrysotile is mined from deposits concentrated in a 100-km-long belt of rock in the Eastern Townships of Quebec extending from the town of Asbestos in the west to East Broughton in the east. The town of Asbestos is the site of the Western World's largest known deposit. [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Most of the chrysotile mines in Canada are surface (open-pit) mines, although there is still one active underground operation.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] More than 90% of Canada's chrysotile production is exported to approximately 60 countries. Canada's major markets are in Asia, Africa and Latin America.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] Due to their intrinsic qualities, affordable cost and the resulting job creation in local communities, the demand in developing countries for encapsulated chrysotile manufactured products has become relatively more important in recent years in response to pressing needs for water, sewage and housing infrastructure development.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]You are welcome........:smile:
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