thefiresidecat
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2017
Posts: 3
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Post by thefiresidecat on Sept 12, 2017 4:51:05 GMT -5
hi, I have a question about the kind of stone in my countertop. I've been told it's serpentite. so what I'm concerned with is would this have asbestos in it? I know the top side where it's polished isn't a worry but the unpolished underside does concern me. I have come up with what look like very very tiny crystal fibers on my fingers (only visible with bright light and reading glasses) . should we be super concerned? I can take more close ups if that would help.
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Post by Peruano on Sept 12, 2017 7:51:41 GMT -5
Some counter top slabs are actually treated with what looks like fiberglass to strengthen them or ?? You may be getting residue of fiberglass. I wouldn't worry about asbestos contamination. But I wouldn't work in the factory that sawed those slabs without a mask.
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Post by fantastic5 on Sept 12, 2017 7:59:38 GMT -5
I wouldn't be concerned. I have some asbestoform minerals in my collection. The only worry is dust that is inhaled. Physical contact is not a concern. You can always wear a mask and vacuum (or swifter) all of the underside of your counter tops that you can reach. That will remove any of the loose material once and for all.
Welcome to the forum. And nice selection of material. Did you go with the 'leathered' finish? We just picked our counter top material last Friday. So many choices.
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Sept 12, 2017 8:20:20 GMT -5
@shotgunner?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2017 9:21:23 GMT -5
Thanks Bill. I'll concur with both my friends above. Serpentine is kinda soft so a fiberglass backers adds stability.
And yes, Ann is spot on. No worries about asbestos from incidental contact of the non fibrous materials. But heck, she is the physician!
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thefiresidecat
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2017
Posts: 3
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Post by thefiresidecat on Sept 15, 2017 1:51:50 GMT -5
thanks. there is a backing on it. wasn't sure if it would come up with microscopic fibrous crystalline tiny bits even after cutting and whatever strength they sand to.. but if it's fiberglass that would be glassy wouldn't it. i was worried that maybe the asbestos fibers could be shedding even after doing that. (we did do the vaccuum thing)) we've seen a fair number of cracks and we can't open anything glass on it. lol. it scratches like no tomorrow. we went with shiney. it's really gorgeous. it has a strong blue tint that was what we loved about it, then I started reading about blue asbestos and was like OMG. lol. we're probably going to get it tested just for piece of mind but this helps. thanks!
I love rocks I've always loved rocks But I don't think I have the fortitude to actually work with them. lol. love to look at them.. and when we were redoing a kitchen the idea of being able to choose a gorgeous stone was fantastic! I'm surprised more people don't go this route. I kinda wish I knew it was a serpentine before getting it installed though. we were told granite maybe borderline quartz on toughness and that just aint so.
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Post by fantastic5 on Sept 15, 2017 13:02:53 GMT -5
I kinda wish I knew it was a serpentine before getting it installed though. we were told granite maybe borderline quartz on toughness and that just aint so. The granite companies have some somewhat unethical practices when it comes to disclosing the nature of their stones. After weeks of searching my husband and I finally decided on a granite slab and its being processed now. I had fallen in love with a material that was first introduced to me as a granite from one store. Then a quartzite at another and a super marble from yet a third. I finally just took a piece home and it had a hardness much closer to marble and etched with lemon juice. Not something for my kitchen. We just like to cook too much. So we went with our second favorite. Fingers crossed that it works and looks like we hope.
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Post by fantastic5 on Sept 15, 2017 15:07:50 GMT -5
But heck, she is the physician! Hey Scott, you need to tell my employer that they haven't been paying me enough!! LOL No, not a physician. I'm a clinical laboratory scientist. I supervise Special Chemistry and Point of Care testing at a hospital.
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thefiresidecat
off to a rocking start
Member since September 2017
Posts: 3
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Post by thefiresidecat on Sept 25, 2017 5:43:47 GMT -5
so any idea what teh stone is probably actually made of? is this actually serpentite? I was talking to a professor of geology about this and he says the pistachio part is epidote not serpentine. he said it wouldn't be riebecktite because there is no tigers eye effect. after I wrote this my husband did a test with some saftey glass and the edge of the rough stone (we have some spare in the garage) easily scratched that. but yet tonight when I was making dinner I accidently hit a spice jar on the edge of the counter and it like dented, or lightly veryyyy lightly chipped (really tiny) the jar was fine. could the blue be Dumortierite? here are some more photos www.flickr.com/photos/59185735@N07/shares/f18V50the online information I can find about this has some riebecktite as fibrous and some as non fibrous so is it not all asbestos form. other places refer to all riebecktite as asbestos form. is there somewhere I can send a sample and get a positive id of this stuff?
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Sept 25, 2017 9:28:50 GMT -5
thefiresidecat That's beautiful! I would love to have found that material when we were shopping for counter tops. Lynn
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