The purpose of this site is to provide helpful information to victims of mesothelioma, including information on hospitals, doctors, treatments and legal help.

Asbestos Minerals

There are six asbestos minerals, in two groups:

Serpentine group:

  • chrysotile

Amphibole group:

  • actinolite
  • amosite
  • anthophyllite
  • crocidolite
  • tremolite

Chrysotile Is the Main Asbestos Mineral

Chrysotile has its own group because its asbestos fibers are very long, flexible and snake-like ("serpentine"), in contrast to the fibers of all the asbestos minerals in the amphibole group, which are straight and often more brittle. All of these minerals provide naturally occurring asbestos; that is, they are not synthetic or man-made.

In addition, all of these minerals are capable of inducing asbestos diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. All six are highly regulated asbestos minerals, with limited uses in the U.S. and most other industrialized countries.

Uses of Asbestos Minerals

The asbestos minerals vary in regard to their applications. Before strict restrictions were placed on asbestos use, chrysotile accounted for about 95 percent of the uses of asbestos in the U.S.; amosite was the second most frequently used, and crocidolite is third. Part of the reason that chrysotile was so widely used is that its fibers are very versatile and flexible. It can be found in thousands of American asbestos products, including:

  • flat sheets or tiles
    • thick boards
  • spun and woven cloth
  • cement, plastics and insulation materials
  • brake linings
  • pipes and electrical wiring insulation
  • rope seals

Get More Asbestos Information

Thousands of people in the U.S. have died from asbestos diseases. The widespread presence of asbestos minerals in our daily lives continues to shock even experts. For example, the first filtered cigarette on the U.S. market, Kent, purposely used crocidolite asbestos in its heralded "Micronite" filter in the early 1950s!

Get Help for Your Asbestos Caused Disease

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis or another asbestos-caused disease, you will most likely qualify to recover compensation for your injuries and losses. For more information about your legal rights, contact the Mesothelioma Treatment Center today and schedule a no-cost consultation with an asbestos attorney in your area who will fight to protect your legal rights.

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