The Greek word άσβεστος [ásvestos] translates as "unquenchable." In this case, the main useful property of asbestos, a mineral of the silicate class, is its incombustibility. The exact explanation of the paradox is probably hidden in the asbestos papyruses of the priests of ancient Egypt, which have not yet been found, but there is a hint to the solution.
The writings of St. Augustine mention the lamps burning indefinitely in the religious buildings of Egypt. They were perceived at the time as the Nile Empire's answer to the three-day "Egyptian darkness" described in the Bible.
The most plausible version today of the device of such a lamp is associated with asbestos. It is no accident that this stone in Russia called the mountain flax - it does not burn, and at the same time breaks up into fibers similar to textile. The fuse of this material can really provide a lamp with infinite operating life. And a conventionally endless supply of fuel was probably provided by the connection with the oil fields located under the temples.
The asbestos "trace" is found not only in the pivotal events of ancient history, but also in the very recent past. It is mentioned, for example, in connection with the tragedy of the twin towers of New York on September 11, 2001. It is known that during the construction of skyscrapers from the 1950s to the mid-1960s, chrysotile or white asbestos, the most common and relatively safe type of mineral, was actively used as a fireproofing agent. "Twins" were erected from 1966 to 1973. At that time an anti-asbestos campaign had already begun in the West, and the material was used only on a limited basis.
According to the Chrysotile Association (a Russian non-profit association of asbestos manufacturers), the old technology would at least have bought time to evacuate people from the damaged buildings, and probably would have saved them from destruction. It is known, by the way, that the owners of the World Trade Center, succumbing to the fashionable trend, spent $1 billion to pay for the services of a special company to remove asbestos after the buildings were built. So great was the fear of the carcinogenic properties of asbestos.
Manufacturers refer to medical research, confirming the harmlessness of chrysotile, provided the safety precautions in its use. Opponents have their own arguments. Let's leave aside this dispute. Let us note only that the popularity of the anti-chrysotile agenda in the West is influenced by the fact that the main producer of this material is Russia. Our country produces more than half of the world's volume.
The largest deposit is the Bazhenovskoye, 60 kilometers from Ekaterinburg. The oldest is Nevyanskoye, also in the Middle Urals. Asbestos mining there began back in 1720 by Nikita Demidov, the founder of the famous dynasty of Russian industrialists. From "mountain flax" then made working clothes and gloves for the personnel of metallurgical factories.
The active use of asbestos was "blessed" by Peter I. After Demidov at one of the receptions demonstrated cleaning chrysotile tablecloths from wine stains with a fireplace flame. It did not break the elasticity and did not change the color of the fabric, and everything foreign on it burned out without a trace.
According to writer Yevgeny Fedorov, the wife of Ural factory worker Safron Sogra was the first to weave the miracle from stone.
"Though this tablecloth, father, is not a self-blanket, but it is cherished: it does not burn in the fire and is always new!" - This is how the heroine of the book "The Demidovs" presented her work to the miner.
As you know, there is no prophet in his homeland, but the weaver's testament is consistent with the wisdom of Egyptian priests and the conclusions of American experts in engineering structures. It is worth reflecting on and not getting involved in an anti-cult like the irrational pursuit of carbon neutrality.
