Asbestos.
Asbestos of good quality and workable quantity exists in the counties
lying between the upper James and the upper Dan rivers, at several places,
notably in Pittsylvania, Henry and Patrick, and latterly found in several
other counties, very fine specimens of which can be seen in the cabinet of
the Department of Agriculture. Asbestos in its various formations has
been recently developed in Bedford County, and is found in large quantities
and of good quality. In the Blue Ridge division asbestos is found in
connection with most of the mineral formations. In Roanoke and Botetourt
it is very white and pure, though the fibre is short. In Buckingham
the fibre is very long and flexible, but the color is not so good, but the
specimens were taken near the surface. It is said to have been found in
Amelia, Fairfax, Fauquier, Patrick and Pittsylvania.
