Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally in the environment and is typically divided into two mineralogical groups, but not all varieties have commercial use.

The family of amphibolites include crocidolite (also known as “blue asbestos”), the amosite (known as “brown asbestos), tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Within the different types of amphibole fibers, only crocidolite and amosite are used commercially. However, the asbestos “noncommercial” (as tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite) are also present as contaminants in commercial products include chrysotile asbestos, vermiculite and talc.

The other group of asbestos is the serpentine group that includes only the variety chrysotile asbestos. Despite its dangerous properties, chrysotile was immensely popular in the industry and represents 90% of the commercial use of asbestos in the United States.