Asbestos (ancient Greek: ἄσβεστος – indestructible, imperishable, indelible) is neither a distinct, recognized mineral nor a group of minerals, but a collective term for certain naturally occurring, fibrous silicate minerals.

There are two groups of different asbestos minerals:

Serpentines

Amphiboles

  • Grunerite (Amosite)

*(no asbestos)

The minerals shown are not necessarily shaped asbestos-like!