Show asbestos Is costly and america much of it washington asbestos magic wicking material once used in the non burnable wicks ot of the ever burn ing lamps tended by the vestal virgins of rome home and now a part of nearly every farmers oil stove is not a single mineral but a trade term applied to a number ot of fibrous materials dr oliver bowl bowles ea 0 ot f the united states bureau ot of mines told the geological society ot of washington commonly found associated with serpentine rocks from which it Is formed by alteration and asbestos varies in value from a ton for inch lo long n g fibers of chrysotile a very high grade down to less than the cost of mining for the short poorer grades the greatest problem in asbestos production doctor bowles said Is to separate the asbestos from the rock without breaking the fibers not well supplied with asbestos the united states has commercially productive deposits only in vermont and arizona most of 0 our supply today is imported from canada with the other producers south africa and soviet russia sending small amounts |