gneisses and schists, and also in part in the peridotite itself. In New York the emery deposits are segregations of aluminum and iron oxides in norite (a basic igneous rock). The emery of Greece and Turkey occurs as lenses or pockets in crystalline limestones, and is the result of contact metamorphism by intrusive granites.
Garnets result mainly from contact metamorphism, and commonly occur either in schists and gneisses or in marble. The principal American occurrences are of this type. Being heavy and resistant to weathering, they are also concentrated in placers. The Spanish garnets are reported to be obtained by washing the sands of certain streams.
Pumice is solidified rock froth formed by escape of gases from molten igneous rocks at the surface. It is often closely associated with volcanic ash, which is also used for abrasive purposes.
In general, the geologic processes entering into the formation of abrasives cover almost the full range from primary igneous processes to surface alterations and sedimentation.
ASBESTOS
Economic Features
The principal uses of asbestos are in high-pressure packing in heat engines, in thermal and electrical insulation, in fire-proofing, and in brake-band linings.
The largest producers of asbestos are Canada (Quebec) and, to a considerably less extent, Russia. United States interests have financial control of about a fourth of the Canadian production, and practically the entire export trade of Canada goes to the United States. Russia exports nearly all her product to Germany, Austria, United Kingdom, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Previous to the war the output was largely controlled by a German syndicate. There is a considerable recent production in