4 
ASBESTOS. 
Under the name asbestos, there are several fibrous minerals 
used in commerce; antkophyllite, amphibole or hornblende as 
bestos, and chrysotile or serpentine asbestos. The last of these 
three is the best in quality, and is of most importance to Cana 
dians, since the product of the mines of the Eastern Townships 
of Quebec is of this variety. 
It occurs in reticulating veins up to 4 or 5 inches in width, 
in serpentine rock, the fibres being arranged at right angles 
to the walls of the veins. These fibres, which are easily sep 
arable, are very fine, of a silky appearance, and flexible to a 
high degree. Asbestos is unaffected by heat, except on con 
tinued exposure to high temperatures, and is noncombustible. 
It is a poor conductor of both heat and electricity, and is not 
attacked by the common acids. 
The above characteristics make this mineral an important 
raw material in a number of manufacturing industries. 
Asbestos fibre may be spun into yarn and rope, and woven 
into fabric, in which forms it finds many uses where a fire-re 
sisting fabric is required. For these purposes a long fibre, both 
strong and very flexible, is desired. At present there are no 
factories in Canada weaving asbestos. 
In this country the principal manufactures of asbestos are 
mill board, paper, and shingles, for which purpose a short fibre 
is used. 
In the making of certain mineral flooring short fibre as 
bestos enters into the mixture, where it acts as a binder. 
On account of its low electrical conductivity it is used as 
an insulator in electrical instruments. While asbestos paper 
and mill board are principally used for this purpose, considerable 
long and short fibre are also employed. 
Short fibre is mixed with paints to produce a fire resisting 
paint 
It is also used in making stove cement, pipe covering, etc. 
Long fibre, besides the uses referred to above, is used in 
making gaskets for packing glands and pipe joints where high 
temperatures or acid solutions are encountered, making of 
chemical and water filters, and as a surfacing of gas grates.