Is my grandma crazy?

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sarahjo80 Loveland, CO(Zone 5b) May 14, 2005

LOL, sorry for the unusual title, it got your attention, huh?! :) She keeps telling me that perlite is glass and vermiculite is asbestos...is she crazy? What are these really?

Sarah

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araness Auburn, AL(Zone 8a) May 14, 2005

I know the EPA did testing in the early 2000's on tons of vermiculite and didn't find any traces of asbestos. I think I remember something about the only vermiculite mines to have been found to have any asbestos were in Montana (I think) and that was only because of a secondary mineral found at in the mines. As for perlite it is a siliceous rock so it is a volcanic glass. So grandma was half right?

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sarahjo80 Loveland, CO(Zone 5b) May 14, 2005

Huh...so vermiculite is actually a mineral?...I've been wondering what it is for a long time...

My geophysicist father is rolling over in his grave if it's a mineral! LOL :)

Sarah

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darius So.App.Mtns., United States(Zone 5b) May 14, 2005

Quoting:
ver·mic·u·lite Pronunciation Key (vr-mky-lt)
n.

Any of a group of micaceous hydrated silicate minerals related to the chlorites and used in heat-expanded form as insulation and as a planting medium.

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sarahjo80 Loveland, CO(Zone 5b) May 15, 2005

Thanks Darius...geez, what a novel idea...a dictionary! haha I'm a dork! :) Thank you

Sarah

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PudgyMudpies Stockton, CA(Zone 9a) May 15, 2005

There was something on TV last monday about some vermiculite containing asbestos, and my mom & I both looked at each other is shock. They went on to talk about how this whole town is getting sick, but that is about all we caught cuz we were gabbing when the "some vermiculite containing asbestos" caught our attention.
I looked it up online when I got home and here is what I found:
http://www.asbestosnetwork.com/news/nw_020604_vermiculite.htm
and
http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/verm.html

I use Supersoil brand and even though it was not a brand that was listed, I will certainly take precautions from now on in keeping the dust down. Better safe then sorry.
So no, your grandma is not crazy. :~)

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