Abstract: 2570 A. Introduction

1. Occurrence and Significance

The term asbestos describes a group of naturally occurring, inorganic, highly fibrous silicate minerals that are easily separated into long, thin, flexible fibers when crushed or processed. Included in the definition are the asbestiform (see 2570 A.2) varieties of serpentine (chrysotile), riebeckite (crocidolite), grunerite (grunerite asbestos), anthophyllite (anthophyllite asbestos), tremolite (tremolite asbestos), and actinolite (actinolite asbestos).