What is asbestos?
Asbestos production
Although crocidolite and amosite are reportedly no longer mined, chrysotile is still produced in considerable quantities throughout the world. The following table lists current and historical sites of asbestos production.
| Type | Major sources | Uses / notes |
| Chrysotile (white asbestos) | Russia, Canada, China, Brazil, Kazakhstan, and Zimbabwe* | Asbestos cement products (pipes, gutters, tiles, roofing); insulation, fire-proofing; reinforced plastics (e.g. fan blades); textiles; friction materials (brake and clutch linings, gaskets); paper products; filters; spray-on products. |
| Crocidolite (blue asbestos) | South Africa, Western Australia | Used in combination with cement or in many of the products above. |
| Amosite (brown asbestos) | South Africa | |
| Anthophyllite (gray asbestos) | Bulgaria, Finland, India, South Africa, USA | Filler in rubber and plastics.
Local use only; mined in very small quantities. |
| Tremolite | India, Italy, Korea, Pakistan, South Africa.
Contaminates in other mines (e.g. vermiculite mine, Libby, Montana) |
Local use only; mined in very small quantities. |
| Actinolite | South Africa, Taiwan | Local use only; mined in very small quantities. |
*Current sources in order of production.