Types of Asbestos

There are three types of asbestos used across most common building materials.

Asbestos is a general name given to several naturally occurring minerals that have crystallised to form fibres. Asbestos fibres are very strong, heat and chemical resistant and do not dissolve in water or evaporate. No wonder they were so widely used as a building material!

The three types most common types are called chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite, and they were used in an incredibly wide range of products in asbestos’ manufacturing heyday. They are also often referred to using a colour reference as the scientific names can be a mouthful.

• White Asbestos (Chrysotile)

• Brown Asbestos (Amosite)

• Blue Asbestos (Crocidolite)

Chrysotile (white asbestos fibres) are soft, flexible and curved and far less hazardous than the amphibole type.

Amphibole fibres (crocidolite - blue asbestos, amosite - brown asbestos, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite) are brittle fibres and are often needle-like in appearance. It is this form that is more hazardous to health. Crocidolite was the most commonly used amphibole asbestos in the past.

Please get in touch with us on 0499 352 603 or info@northwestasbestos.com if you would like more information on how we can test or remove potential asbestos containing materials on your property.