Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that is mined, processed, and used in a variety of industries. It has long been known for its fire-resistant properties. Asbestos has been used for thousands of years in the construction industry and other applications. Its use increased with the introduction of new products like cement and asbestos-cement board. The asbestos mining industry reached its peak in the early 20th century where it was used to build many structures including homes, schools, office buildings, and factories. Asbestos can be found in many different forms such as chrysotile (white asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), tremolite (green asbestos), anthophyllite (black asbestos).