Asbestos
Where it's Found?
Major asbestos deposits can be found in rock formations in the United States, Canada, South Africa, and the former Soviet Union. In the United States, asbestos occurs in 20 states and has been mined in 17 states (Asbestos Facts, U.S. Geological Survey). Sepentinite, the most common source for chrysotile, is present in the Appalachians, Cascades, Coast Ranges of California and Oregon, and in other mountainous areas.
Currently, chrysotile is the only type of asbestos mined on a large scale. Small amounts of tremolite asbestos are still mined in India. Commercial production of crocidolite and amosite ended about four years ago in South Africa.