If a mineral lab at a university carries amphibole (asbestos), isn't that a major health hazard? Why would students be allowed to handle samples without precautions, figuring out the Mohs scale number etc. for this mineral?
Asbestos isn't always bad. There are actually more types of risk-free asbestos than there is of hazardous asbestos. Asbestos is the name given to a number of naturally occurring fibrous minerals with high tensile strength, the ability to be woven, and resistance to heat and most chemicals. Because of these properties, asbestos fibers have been used in a wide range of manufactured goods, including roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper and cement products, textiles, coatings, and friction products such as automobile clutch, brake and transmission parts. The Toxic Substances Control Act defines asbestos as the asbestiform varieties of: chrysotile (serpentine); crocidolite (riebeckite); amosite (cummingtonite/grunerite); anthophyllite; tremolite; and actinolite. The more hazardous types of asbestos, such as the above mentioned, are very fibrous, and the specimen you see in lab, I doubt are a risk to you or any other student for that matter. If you are really concerned see the following link: www.epa /asbestos/pubs/help.ht...
No. Asbestos would be problematic, and is a form of amphibole, but not all amphiboles are asbestos. Most forms of amphibole present no greater threat than granite.
no because amphibole is not asbestos it is a completely different mineral with completely different properties
