Chrysotile asbestos was used predominantly in products manufactured in the United States. Although small amounts of chrysotile were mined in the United States, the overwhelming majority of the mesothelioma causing asbestos was mined in Canada and then shipped into the United States.
Chrysotile asbestos is also known as serpentine because it is found in serpentine rock.
Serpentine is a polymorphous, magnesium-rich mineral typically found in metamorphic rocks. Its non-fibrous modifications are known as lizardite and antigorite, and the fibrous type is called chrysotile. Chrysotile fibers are formed by sheetlike crystals that roll into tight tubes and may exhibit several forms. The fibers may be compared to fine threads or hairs. Chrysotile usually occurs in bundles.
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