Chrysotile asbestos. There is no other such mineral in nature.

The Greek word "asbestos" means "inexhaustible", "inextinguishable", "unquenchable" - a romantic notion of a mineral found in nature. Another old and no less romantic name is "fossil flax".

Due to the minerals' originality a lot of legends were made up about it. In one of the best the chrysotile is called hair of salamander, the misterious lizard living in fire. Since olden times in the Urals asbestos has been called a stone tow from which fireproof napkins and tablecloths were woven, and the wicks for lamps made of it in the olden times have served for years without renewal.

85 percent of asbestos mined in the world goes to manufacture of asbestos-cement roofing materials and pipes. Despite all efforts made in search for a substitute for asbestos to ensure the same engineering qualities, no reliable alternative has been found yet.

Cellulose fiber is used as substitute for asbestos in the manufacture of roofing materials and pipes. Cellulose is noticeably inferior to asbestos in heat resistance and durability, and swells under conditions of high humidity.

Loss of quality of corrugated roofing sheets from asbestos substitutes is becoming a serious problem in the world.

Substitutes close to asbestos in engineering qualities are 10-100 times more expensive, thus materials on their basis are non-competitive. No satisfactory substitute is known for high-pressure asbestos-cement pipes. In fact, when asbestos is rejected, it is replaced with metallurgical and chemical industry products. According to data of the International Agency for Cancer Investigation, these industries present the major sources of cancerigenic compounds. Besides, metal and chemical material components are more expensive, and less durable and affordable .