ASBESTOS UNIQUE MINERAL.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2644, 4 September 1906, Page 7

ASBESTOS UNIQUE MINERAL.

Th>' in j iii-rn 1 unique is asbestos. .litY.-r.-ni from cvpit other mineral in iis occurrence, mining. ami preparation for the market, it forms an entire st 11<I\ in itself. It. was lirst mined about joo years ago, chiefly as interesting to the geologist unci mineralogist, and of little or no commerrial value. About IStiS it was first used commercially in the manufacture of roofing felt and cement. Knrly attempts to spin this libre were unsuccessful. but the dillicult ies havr now been oirrcnme, so that a single asbestos thread, weighing not more than one ounce per 100 yards, which has a pretu fair strength. ma.\ be made. In its spun state it is used largely as yarn for packing valves. &c.. for which use it has main, advantages. Asbestos copes for lire departments arc made entireh of asbestos. or asbestos with a core of steel. With the st»el wire core a ,'in. rope carried nearly 'J.ooont. Without the core the Jin. rope carries o\er Htmlib.. and suffices for firemen's purposes.