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Asbestos is the name given to a group of six different fibrous minerals (amosite, chrysotile, crocidolite, and the fibrous varieties of tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite) that occur naturally in the environment. One of these, namely chrysotile, belongs to the serpentine family of minerals, while all of the others belong to the amphibole family. Asbestos minerals consist of thin, separable fibres that have a parallel arrangement. Nonfibrous forms of tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite also are found naturally. However, because they are not fibrous, they are not classified as asbestos minerals. Amphibole asbestos fibres are generally brittle and often have a rod- or needle-like shape, whereas chrysotile asbestos fibres are flexible and curved. Chrysotile, also known as white asbestos, is the predominant commercial form of asbestos; amphiboles are of minor commercial importance. Asbestos fibres do not have any detectable odour or taste. They do not dissolve in water or evaporate and are resistant to heat, fire, chemical and biological degradation. [1,2]
