1805: The Leading Exporters of Asbestos are Scotland, Sweden, Saxony, and Dauphiny

I have a prior blog that mentions asbestos first becoming commercialized in England during the 1830s. See https://theasbestosblog.com/?p=11519. I guess it depends on how one defines “commercialized.”

Let’s look at a few decades prior to the 1830s. Take the 1805 London publication titled Short Characters of Earths: with Notes according to the Improvements of Klaproth, Vauquelin, and Hauy by Terrae Filius that can be found on the Hathi Digital Trust. The “Index of Minerals and Their Places” (page 94 in the book) shows that asbestos was located in Scotland and Sweden, serpentine was identified as from Saxony, and Amianthus was located in Dauphiny.

As to the uses of asbestos at the time:

“In the Vatican is a winding-sheet of asbestos, or amianthus, full of ashes and half-burnt bones. The ancients spun it into cloth; the moderns make matches of it, that burn very bright. Father Kircher used on for two years without any waste, or impairing it to the smallest degree. The Corsicans mix it with clay, and work it into pots, which are very light, and not so fragile as if all clay, and more insensible to sudden changes of temperature.”

This was all new to me. It seems that the basic traits of asbestos were well known, and put into use, long before the industrial revolution.

If this book interests you, pick up an electronic copy through the Hathi Digital Trust or send me an email. If you have any questions, leave a comment or email me at TheAsbestosBlog@gmail.com. Thanks, Marty.