We always hear about this toxic thing called asbestos, what is it anyway?

Asbestos is a name for several commonly occurring fibrous minerals. It was mined from the ground in huge quantities throughout the 20th century. Due in part to its adaptable properties, its resistance to heat and fire, its vast availability and its relatively inexpensive cost, many American companies incorporated it into their products. American industry used asbestos for everything from acoustic insulation, fire proofing, brake pads, gaskets, transmission parts, fire blankets, stage curtains, pipe insulation, brake blocks and heat shields, to various other everyday items.