Naturally-occurring asbestos in Arizona

A new report by Bradley Van Gosen of the USGS documents 103 locations of naturally-occurring asbestos sites in Arizona, of which 96 are chrysotile asbestos in Gila and Pinal counties. [right: AZ portion of USGS OFR-08-1095]

A reported 75,000 tons of asbestos minerals were mined in the Salt River region of Gila County. Mining ended in 1982.

Van Gosen writes that asbestos was discovered in 1872 at the town of Chrysotile. Of the 46 asbestos mines in Arizona, 44 were in Gila Co. The other two were small producers in the early 1900s in what is now the Grand Canyon.