 1. Chrysotile or white asbestos (fine, silky, flexible white fibers) The most common type of asbestos, it is also known as "white asbestos," and Chrysotile comprises approximately 90%-95% of all asbestos in the United States. It is made up of minerals which crystallize in the "serpentine" pattern, which means its crystals are formed in sheets. Chrysotile has been linked with all asbestos-related diseases, including asbestosis, lunc cnacer, cand mesothelioma.  2. Amosite (straight, brittle fibers that are light grey to pale brown in color) Brown or gray, straight amosite fibers belong in the amphibole group, and contain iron and magnesium. A type of Amphibole asbestos that is made up of mineral fibers formed by crystals that look chain-like. Amosite is also called "brown asbestos" takes its name from the asbestos mines of South Africa.
 3. Crocidolite or blue asbestos (straight, blue fibers) A member of the amphibole group, crocidolite takes the form of blue, straight fibers. It is a sodium iron magnesium silicate. Crocidolite is one of the five types of Amphibole asbestos. This means the fibers in Crocidolite are made up of mineral crystals that look like chains. Crocidolite is often called "blue asbestos," and occurs naturally in Austrial, South Africa, the former Soviet Union and Canada.
 4. Anthophyllite (brittle, white fibers) One of the more rare forms of asbestos. It is a mineral with fibers that form in the Amphibole family — which means the fibers are made of crystals that are chain-like in appearance. Like two other rare forms of asbestos, Tremolite and Actinolite, Anthophyllite is found mainly as a contaminant in other minerals. Anthophyllite was not use commercially as were chrysotile, amosite, and, to a lesser extent, crocidolite.
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