Asbestos

Group of highly stable, non-flammable silicate minerals with a fibrous structure

Asbestos (ass-BES-təs, az-, -⁠toss) is a group of naturally occurring, toxic, carcinogenic and fibrous silicate minerals. There are six types, all of which are composed of long and thin fibrous crystals, each fibre (particulate with length substantially greater than width) being composed of many microscopic "fibrils" that can be released into the atmosphere by abrasion and other processes. Inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to various dangerous lung conditions, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. As a result of these health effects, asbestos is considered a serious health and safety hazard.

GENERAL

Category	Silicate minerals +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Strunz classification	09.ED.15 +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Dana classification	71.01.02d.03 +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Crystal system	Orthorhombic, monoclinic +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

IDENTIFICATION

Formula mass	277.11 g +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Crystal habit	Amorphous, granular, massive +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Cleavage	Prismatic +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Fracture	Fibrous +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Mohs scale hardness	2.5–6.0 +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Streak	White +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Specific gravity	2.4–3.3 +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Optical properties	Biaxial +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Refractive index	1.53–1.72 +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Birefringence	0.008 +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
2V angle	20° to 60° +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Dispersion	Relatively weak +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Extinction	Parallel or oblique +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Ultraviolet fluorescence	Non-fluorescent +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
Melting point	400 to 1,040 °C (752 to 1,904 °F) +info/source this text will appear in brackets e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

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