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Asbestos can be found in almost 70% of the surface of the Earth, but only 25 countries have commercially feasible deposits, that is, deposits with more than 3% ore content. However, only very few countries have economically feasible chrysotile asbestos deposits. The largest world producers of asbestos, with the exception of Canada (the fourth largest), belong to a group of developing countries, including some of the republics that belonged to the former USSR, China, part of South America and several African countries.
LOCATION OF THE MAIN ASBESTOS MINES IN BRAZIL AND IN THE WORLD
| Countries |
Production (m. ton.) |
| RÚSSIA |
920.000 |
| CHINA |
360.000 |
| BRASIL |
250.000 |
| KAZAKHSTAN |
210.000 |
| CANADA |
200.000 |
| ZIMBABWE* |
130.000 |
| OTHER |
15.000 |
| TOTAL |
2.085.000 |
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