ASBESTOS UNIQUE MINERAL.

North Otago Times, 6 September 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

ASBESTOS UNIQUE MINERAL.

The mineral unique is asbestos, different from every other mineral in its occurrence, mining, and preparation for.the market, it forms an entire study in itself. It was first mined about 100 years ago, chiefly as interesting to the geologist and mineralogist, and of little or no commercial value. About 1808 it was first used commercially in the manufacture of roofing felt and cement. Early attempts to spin this fibre were unsuccessful, but the dillicultics have now been overcome, so that a single asbestos thread, weighing not moro than one ounce per 100 yards, which has a pretty fair strength, may bo made, In its spun state it is used largely as yarn for packing valves, &.c„ for which use it has many, advantages. Asbestos ropes for fire departments are made entirely of asbestos, or asbestos with d core of steel,- With the steel wire core a j ]in, rope carried nearly 2,0001b, Without the core the fin, rops carries over 3001b,, and suffices for firemen's purposes.