Mineral Economics and Occupational Health Hazards of the Asbestos Resources of Rajasthan

World's largest anthophyllite and tremolite deposits occur as small pods and lenses in the Precambrian ultramafic rocks of South Rajasthan. These deposits are being exploited by small-scale manual, open-cast mining methods. The recovered are is pulverised, without beneficiation, for use in asbestos-cement products that are manufactured in the small-scale industrial units throughout the country. Field survey conducted for mining, milling, and processing units did not yield anomalous health hazard results. The industry falls under the "extremely low-risk" catergory of the "Notion of acceptable risks". The paper attempts to rationally examine the facts and fallacies associated with asbestos mining and focuses attention on its risk-benefit aspect. It is concluded that the curbs imposed on asbestos are not justified.