Asbestos from anywhere in the world is toxic when inhaled. The term worth noting is “Friable”. When asbestos is friable, it will look like tufts of hair coming off the rock. Specimens should be kept in a sealed container. When mining near asbestos, there are supposed to be signs in place that warm people of the hazards. Down by the benitoite mines in California, there are asbestos mines that can be very dangerous for the surrounding areas when the wind picks up and spreads it away from the mining vicinity.

There are many misconceptions about tigers eye on the internet because it, like many other rocks, are in the fibrous amphibole family- and so too is asbestos. The misinformation about tigers eye being hazardous is because the fibers have been silicated, and bound within the stone. They are not fuzzy and loose on the surface- which is why the term friable is so valuable to know.

Galena is a lead ore (a heavy metal). With that being said, it is not refined. And despite containing lead, it is actually very safe. Much of the worlds plumbing still uses lead, which means water is rushing down and taking particulate with it as it flows. We then ingest that particulate. However, with a rock, where it is also bound with sulphur and only going to be handled momentarily at times… it will have little to no effect. There are no needs for gloves, or safety procedures other than washing your hands after.