Sweet gums are so called because they exude a fragrant yellow resinous gum.. The tree is known by a wide variety of names, among them alligator-tree and alligator wood (probably a reference to the warty knobs on the tree's bark), incense tree and liquidambar.
What is asbestos? Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that are resistant to heat and corrosion. Because of these properties, asbestos has been used in commercial products such as insulation and fireproofing materials, automotive brakes, and wallboard materials.
One such new product that has trace amounts of asbestos is vermiculite, which is used to enhance soil retention. Vermiculite a natural deposit present in the soil. It is used a lot in commercial and hobby gardening.Vermiculite is formed from a mineral called biotite and unfortunately this mineral is always found close to another mineral deposit known as diopside. Diopside is the mineral that turns into asbestos after being subjected to natural aging and weathering processes.f you happen to get vermiculite with residual dust, you should not use it for organic gardening as it will contain EPA regulated amount of asbestos, which is less than 1 percent and even this amount is still very hazardous to human health. More Articles 1  : Benefits Of Manures In Organic Gardening.