206 ASBESTOS, COBALT 



is incandescent and radiates heat. It is also used for table- 

 covers ; a table covered with asbestos remains uninjured even 

 though red-hot vessels be placed upon it. In theatres and other 

 places of public entertainment, the great curtain 1 which divides 

 the stage from the other part of the building is made of it. 



SOURCES OF SUPPLY. The Province of Quebec (south of the 

 St. Lawrence River) is the main source of the world's supply 

 of asbestos. 



' It is quite clear that the Canadian production is more 

 than sufficient to meet the demand for raw asbestos within 

 the British Empire, but it is to be noted that the United 

 Kingdom, although possessing the most up-to-date plants and 

 methods, is largely dependent on foreign sources for the 

 manufactured asbestos it uses.' 2 



The reason of this is, that the bulk of the Canadian output 

 is exported to the United States (whence some of it is re- 

 exported to us), and we have to make up our deficiency from 

 Russian and other foreign supplies, although we do import 

 a certain amount from South Africa. 



Other countries within the empire produce asbestos, but 

 not at present in large quantities. These countries are 

 Rhodesia, Newfoundland, Tasmania, and Cyprus. 



COBALT. Until recently cobalt was chiefly valued because 

 oxides of it were useful for colouring pottery and glass. 



The metal itself, however* is very similar to nickel, both in 

 appearance and qualities, and it can be used for many purposes 

 for which nickel at present is exclusively employed, so that 

 in the future it will probably be still more highly valued than 

 it has been in the past. 



SOURCES OF SUPPLY. The Cobalt District near the eastern 

 boundary of Ontario is the chief source of the world's supply 

 of cobalt ; so that the empire could be entirely self-supporting 

 with regard to this valuable metal. 



COPPER. This beautiful metal has many valuable qualities 

 and was one of the earliest substances known to man. Large 



1 Most asbestos goods in sheet form contain a large proportion of china 

 clay, and become very friable after being highly heated. 

 * Pominions Royal Commission, 



