Chrysotile in mineral form poses no threat to the museum visitor, or staff.
Handling chrysotile in mineral form, likewise, is not threatening.  The
(de-)creation of asbestos dust during byproduct production (and mining) and
certain byproducts in and of themselves are the threat.  I seem to being saying
this with athuority yet I lack a minerologists degree.  However, when I took
minerology in the early 80's this topic was a hot one.  My professor, whom I
have no reason to doubt, is the source of my opinion.  Minerology was a
favorite class of mine, likewise crystalography (that says something about me).
Subesquently, working with mineral collections for the last 7 years,
no minerologist has suggested otherwise.  My point is:
 
If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it.
 
I'm sure a minerologist can offer quantitative information regarding this, but
a little common sense and circumstancial evidence is compeling enough for me.
But that's for another paragraph of bandwidth some other time.
 
Terry Vidal
UNI Museum
[log in to unmask]