Santa Rita mine, Joaquin Ridge near Coalinga, California

The Santa Rita mine lay on the Joaquin Ridge near Coalinga, in San Benito County, California, and the U.S. Bureau of Mines' Minerals Yearbook lists its fiber as chrysotile.^8,10 Union Carbide worked it, and its later owner, KCAC Inc., was in the end the only company mining asbestos in the United States.^11,12 The earliest word in the sources comes from the Minerals Yearbook for 1959, which reports that Union Carbide Nuclear Corp. had "explored an asbestos occurrence 35 miles northwest of Coalinga, Fresno County"; the yearbook does not name a mine, and it is not certain that this occurrence is the later Santa Rita mine.¹³

Union Carbide's first years

The Minerals Yearbook for 1960 lists Union Carbide Nuclear Co. among four companies that "reported mining asbestos for experimental purposes," placing it in Fresno County, and the 1961 yearbook says the company produced small amounts "from a deposit near Coalinga in Fresno County."^1,2 In 1962, according to the yearbook, the company "produced and shipped crude ore from its deposit near Coalinga, Fresno County, for experimental purposes," in preparation for tests at its pilot plant at King City, California, then "under construction."³ The 1963 yearbook, drawing on Mining World, reports that Union Carbide "commenced operation of its experimental pilot plant for processing asbestos fiber near King City"; the same chapter lists Union Carbide's Nuclear Division among the California companies reporting production and shipments, this time in San Benito County.⁴

A 1966 item in Asbestos, the industry's trade journal, summing up the Bureau of Mines' California chapter for 1964, said that the company "recovered asbestos fiber from ore mined on company land in the southeast corner of San Benito County" and processed it in its King City plant in Monterey County.⁶ The Minerals Yearbook names the source "the Joe 5 mine" for 1965 and lists Union Carbide's San Benito mine as "Joe No. 5" from 1968 to 1971.^14,15,16 From the 1972 table on, the yearbook gives the mine's name as Santa Rita.¹⁷ The sources do not say whether Joe No. 5 and Santa Rita were the same workings.^15,17

Short fiber and Calidria

In 1971 John L. Myers, Union Carbide's marketing manager for "Calidria" asbestos, wrote in Asbestos that the company "began development of this deposit several years ago," but that normal markets were limited because the mineral "occurred in only one basic fiber length."⁷ He called the deposit unique in that it "contains only Chrysotile asbestos and consists entirely of the short-fiber mineral, equivalent to Canadian Grade 7 or shorter."⁷ The Minerals Yearbook said Union Carbide "had very significant production in San Benito County" in 1971, and "significant production" there in 1972 and 1973.^16,17,18

The trade journal reported in 1975 that Union Carbide, through its Mining and Metals Division, made Calidria products from short-fibered chrysotile "obtained from a deposit in San Benito County," and that the plant at King City "has been undergoing a $1-million expansion."¹⁹ In January 1981 it reported that the King City plant "has been operating at near capacity for most of the year."²⁰

On the Joaquin Ridge

The Minerals Yearbook for 1974 and 1975 says that "yearend mining was limited to the Joaquin Ridge near Coalinga," where Atlas Asbestos Corp. worked its Santa Cruz mine and Union Carbide was "operating its Santa Rita mine in San Benito County."^21,22 The yearbooks for 1976 through 1981 continue to report that Union Carbide operated the Santa Rita mine.^{8,23,24,25,26} For 1983 the yearbook said the Santa Rita mine was "owned and operated by Union Carbide Corp.," and that "this mine was the second largest U.S. producer."¹¹

Calidria Corp. and KCAC

In 1984, according to the Minerals Yearbook, the mine was owned and operated by Union Carbide "through its newly named Calidria Corp.," and was again the second largest U.S. producer.²⁷ The 1985 yearbook, citing the Asbestos Information Association News and Notes, reports that "Calidria, a subsidiary of Union Carbide Corp., was sold to a private investor group and renamed KCAC Inc."²⁸ The yearbook's producer tables list KCAC Inc. at the Santa Rita mine in 1986, and that year's chapter places KCAC second in U.S. asbestos sales.²⁹

From 1987 the yearbook chapters name only "KCAC Inc., San Benito County, CA," and never the mine itself; they are matched to the Santa Rita mine by company and county.^30,31 The chapters for 1989 and later describe the deposit: KCAC "operated a mine in a highly sheared serpentinite composed of matted short fiber chrysotile and unfractured serpentinite (also referred to as a mass fiber deposit)."^32,33 They say that "the ore was stripped and wet processing was used to beneficiate the fiber," and that the California company "produced only short fiber chrysotile."³²

The last American producer

The Minerals Yearbook for 1994 reports that asbestos "was mined in the United States by one company, KCAC Inc., San Benito County, CA."³³ The chapters of the U.S. Geological Survey called KCAC "the only company mining asbestos in the United States" in each year from 1997 to 2001.^{12,34,35,36,37}

The Survey's figures for those years are national totals for domestic production (sales), which the chapters say came from KCAC alone: 9,550 tons in 1996, 6,890 tons in 1997, and 5,760 t in 1998.^12,34,38 The Survey reported 7,190 t for 1999 and 5,260 metric tons for 2000, and said the figure was "unchanged in 2001 at 5,260 metric tons (t)."^35,36,37 The chapter for 2002 reports that KCAC, "the last domestic producer of asbestos, closed its mine and mill in 2002," and that production (sales) "declined to 2,720 t valued at $1.38 million."⁹

The documents report this mine producing asbestos fiber for sale.³⁸

Preview. Parts of this page have not yet been checked against the documents by a person; they are marked unreviewed. The public site shows checked material only.

Location

Output the documents report

Figures as printed, in the units each document uses (short tons before about 1990, metric tons after, in most U.S. chapters). Some are a year's output, some a daily rate or a capacity, some a company's total rather than this mine's alone; the statement for that year below says which.

Year	Figure	Source
1996	9,550 tons	38
1997	6,890 tons	12
1998	5,760 t	34
1999	7,190 metric tons	35
2000	5,260 metric tons	36
2001	5,260 metric tons	37
2002	2,720 metric tons	9

Year by year

Every statement about this mine in the documents, in each document's own words, by the year it is about.

1959

• Exploration: “explored an asbestos occurrence 35 miles northwest of Coalinga, Fresno County” (Union Carbide Nuclear Corp.), p. 2¹³

1960

• Worked: “reported mining asbestos for experimental purposes: ... Union Carbide Nuclear Co. in Fresno County” (Union Carbide Nuclear Co.), p. 2¹

1961

• Worked: “small amounts of asbestos produced for experimental purposes: Union Carbide Nuclear Co., from a deposit near Coalinga in Fresno County” (Union Carbide Nuclear Co.), p. 2²

1962

• Mill: “processing tests at the company's Kings City, Calif., pilot plant (under construction)” (Union Carbide Nuclear Co.), p. 2³
• Worked: “produced and shipped crude ore from its deposit near Coalinga, Fresno County, for experimental purposes” (Union Carbide Nuclear Co.), p. 2³

1963

• Worked: “Production and shipments were reported by ... Union Carbide Corp. (Nuclear Division), San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corp. (Nuclear Division)), p. 2⁴
• Mill: “commenced operation of its experimental pilot plant for processing asbestos fiber near King City” (Union Carbide Corp.), as reported by Mining World, p. 2⁴

1964

• Worked: “production and shipments of chrysotile were reported by ... Union Carbide Corp., Nuclear Division, San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corp., Nuclear Division), p. 2⁵
• Fiber: “chrysotile” (Union Carbide Corp., Nuclear Division), p. 2⁵
• Worked: “recovered asbestos fiber from ore mined on company land in the southeast corner of San Benito County” (Union Carbide Nuclear Corporation), as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 23⁶

1965

• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp., Nuclear Division, from the Joe 5 mine, San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corp., Nuclear Division), p. 2¹⁴

1968

• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp | San Benito | Joe No. 5 | Do.” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2¹⁵

1969

• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp. | San Benito | Joe No. 5 | Do.” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 3³⁹

1970

• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp. | San Benito | Joe No. 5 | Do.” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2⁴⁰

1971

• Fiber: “contains only Chrysotile asbestos and consists entirely of the short-fiber mineral” (Union Carbide Corporation), said by Union Carbide Corporation, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 10⁷
• Exploration: “Union Carbide Corporation began development of this deposit several years ago” (Union Carbide Corporation), said by Union Carbide Corporation, as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 10⁷
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp. | San Benito | Joe No. 5 | Do.” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2¹⁶
• Output: “Union Carbide Corp. had very significant production in San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2¹⁶
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corporation had significant production in San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corporation), as reported by Asbestos (magazine), p. 40⁴¹

1972

• Output: “Union Carbide Corp. had significant production in San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2¹⁷
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp. | San Benito | Santa Rita | Do.” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2¹⁷

1973

• Output: “Union Carbide Corp. had significant production in San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2¹⁸
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp. | San Benito | Santa Rita | Do.” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 3¹⁸

1974

• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp. operating its Santa Rita mine in San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2²¹
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp | San Benito | Santa Rita | Do.” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2²¹

1975

• Worked: “produces Calidria products made from short-fibered Chrysotile obtained from a deposit in San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corporation), p. 22¹⁹
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp. operating its Santa Rita mine in San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2²²
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp | San Benito | Santa Rita | Do.” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 3²²

1976

• Worked: “produces Calidria products made from short-fibered Chrysotile. The mine is located in San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corporation), p. 27⁴²
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp. operated its Santa Rita mine in San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2⁸
• Fiber: “chrysotile” (Union Carbide Corp), p. 3⁸
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp | San Benito | Santa Rita | Do. [chrysotile]” (Union Carbide Corp), p. 3⁸

1977

• Worked: “produces Calidria asbestos products from short-fibered Chrysotile mined in San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corporation), p. 22⁴³
• Description: “both on the ridge [Joaquin Ridge near Coalinga]” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2²³
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp. operated its Santa Rita mine in San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2²³
• Fiber: “chrysotile” (Union Carbide Corp), p. 2²³
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp | San Benito | Santa Rita | Do. [chrysotile]” (Union Carbide Corp), p. 2²³

1978

• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp. operated its Santa Rita mine in San Benito County” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 3²⁴
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp | San Benito | Santa Rita | Do. [chrysotile]” (Union Carbide Corp), p. 4²⁴
• Fiber: “chrysotile” (Union Carbide Corp), p. 4²⁴

1980

• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp | San Benito | Santa Rita | Do. [chrysotile]” (Union Carbide Corp), p. 3²⁵
• Worked: “from short fibers mined at San Benito County; UCC's plant has been operating at near capacity for most of the year” (Union Carbide Corporation), p. 13²⁰
• Fiber: “chrysotile” (Union Carbide Corp), p. 3²⁵
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp. operated its Santa Rita Mine (San Benito County)” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 3²⁵

1981

• Fiber: “chrysotile” (Union Carbide Corp), p. 3²⁶
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp | San Benito | Santa Rita | Do. [chrysotile]” (Union Carbide Corp), p. 3²⁶
• Worked: “On the Joaquin Ridge near Coalinga, in San Benito County, Union Carbide Corp. operated its Santa Rita Mine” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 3²⁶

1982

• Fiber: “chrysotile” (Union Carbide Corp), p. 3¹⁰
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp | San Benito | Santa Rita | Do. [chrysotile]” (Union Carbide Corp), p. 3¹⁰
• Worked: “the Santa Rita Mine on the Joaquin Ridge near Coalinga, in San Benito County, was owned and operated by Union Carbide Corp.” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2¹⁰

1983

• Fiber: “chrysotile” (Union Carbide Corp), p. 2¹¹
• Worked: “Union Carbide Corp | San Benito | Santa Rita | Do. [chrysotile]” (Union Carbide Corp), p. 2¹¹
• Worked: “the Santa Rita Mine ... was owned and operated by Union Carbide Corp.” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2¹¹
• Output: “This mine was the second largest U.S. producer” (Union Carbide Corp.), p. 2¹¹

1984

• Output: “This mine was the second largest U.S. producer” (Calidria Corp.), p. 2²⁷
• Worked: “owned and operated by Union Carbide Corp. through its newly named Calidria Corp.” (Calidria Corp.), p. 2²⁷
• Ownership: “Union Carbide Corp. through its newly named Calidria Corp.” (Union Carbide Corp.; Calidria Corp.), p. 2²⁷
• Worked: “Calidria Corp | San Benito | Santa Rita | Do. [chrysotile]” (Calidria Corp), p. 3²⁷
• Fiber: “chrysotile” (Calidria Corp), p. 3²⁷

1985

• Worked: “Calidria Corp | San Benito | Santa Rita | Do. [chrysotile]” (Calidria Corp), p. 2²⁸
• Ownership: “Calidria, a subsidiary of Union Carbide Corp., was sold to a private investor group and renamed KCAC Inc.” (KCAC Inc.), as reported by Asbestos Information Association News and Notes, p. 2²⁸
• Output: “followed by Calidria Corp.” (Calidria Corp.), p. 2²⁸
• Fiber: “chrysotile” (Calidria Corp), p. 2²⁸

1986

• Output: “followed by KCAC Inc.” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2²⁹
• Fiber: “chrysotile” (KCAC Inc), p. 3²⁹
• Worked: “KCAC Inc | San Benito | Santa Rita | Do. [chrysotile]” (KCAC Inc), p. 3²⁹

1987

• Worked: “KCAC Inc., San Benito County, CA” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2³⁰

1988

• Worked: “KCAC Inc., San Benito County, CA” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2³¹

1989

• Description: “a mine in a highly sheared serpentinite ... (also referred to as a mass fiber deposit)” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2³²
• Fiber: “limited to chrysotile” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2³²
• Mill: “wet processing was used to beneficiate the fiber” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2³²
• Worked: “KCAC Inc., San Benito County, CA” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2³²
• Fiber: “only short fiber chrysotile” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2³²

1990

• Worked: “KCAC Inc., San Benito County, CA” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2⁴⁴
• Fiber: “only short fiber chrysotile” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2⁴⁴
• Mill: “wet processing was used to beneficiate the fiber” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2⁴⁴
• Fiber: “limited to chrysotile” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2⁴⁴
• Description: “a mine in a highly sheared serpentinite ... (also referred to as a mass fiber deposit)” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2⁴⁴

1991

• Fiber: “limited to chrysotile” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2⁴⁵
• Mill: “wet processing was used to beneficiate the fiber” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2⁴⁵
• Fiber: “only short fiber chrysotile” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2⁴⁵
• Description: “a mine in a highly sheared serpentinite ... (also referred to as a mass fiber deposit)” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2⁴⁵
• Worked: “KCAC Inc., San Benito County, CA” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2⁴⁵

1994

• Fiber: “only short fiber chrysotile” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³³
• Mill: “wet processing was used to beneficiate the fiber” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³³
• Description: “a mine in a highly sheared serpentinite ... (also referred to as a mass fiber deposit)” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³³
• Worked: “mined in the United States by one company, KCAC Inc., San Benito County, CA” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³³
• Fiber: “limited to chrysotile” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³³

1995

• Description: “a mine in a highly sheared serpentinite ... (also called a mass fiber deposit)” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1⁴⁶
• Mill: “wet processing was used to beneficiate the fiber” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1⁴⁶
• Worked: “mined in the United States by one company, KCAC Inc., San Benito County, CA” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1⁴⁶
• Fiber: “limited to chrysotile” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1⁴⁶

1996

• Mill: “wet processing was used to beneficiate the fiber” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³⁸
• Description: “a mine in a highly sheared serpentinite ... (also called a mass fiber deposit)” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³⁸
• Fiber: “Chrysotile was the only variety” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³⁸
• Worked: “mined in the United States by one company, KCAC Inc., in San Benito County, CA” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³⁸
• Output: “Domestic production (sales) increased slightly to 9,550 tons” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³⁸

1997

• Output: “Domestic production (sales) decreased to 6,890 tons” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1¹²
• Worked: “the only company mining asbestos in the United States in 1997” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1¹²
• Description: “mines a highly sheared serpentinite ... (also called a mass fiber deposit)” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1¹²

1998

• Output: “Domestic production (sales) decreased to 5,760 t” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³⁴
• Description: “mined a highly sheared serpentinite ... (also called a mass-fiber deposit)” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³⁴
• Worked: “the only company mining asbestos in the United States in 1998” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³⁴

1999

• Description: “a highly sheared serpentinite ... (also called a mass-fiber deposit)” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³⁵
• Output: “increased 25% to 7,190 t in 1999” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³⁵
• Worked: “the only company mining asbestos in the United States in 1999” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³⁵
• Fiber: “matted, short-fiber chrysotile” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³⁵

2000

• Worked: “the only company mining asbestos in the United States in 2000” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2³⁶
• Output: “decreased by 27% to 5,260 metric tons (t) in 2000” (KCAC Inc.), p. 2³⁶

2001

• Output: “unchanged in 2001 at 5,260 metric tons (t)” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³⁷
• Worked: “the only company mining asbestos in the United States in 2001” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1³⁷

2002

• Closed: “the last domestic producer of asbestos, closed its mine and mill in 2002” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1⁹
• Output: “declined to 2,720 t valued at $1.38 million” (KCAC Inc.), p. 1⁹

In court opinions

Court opinions in our case-law library that name this mine, by how they concern it. A search found every one that names the mine and an AI reader sorted them; the quotation, checked word for word against the text, shows where. Those that name the mine only in passing or in a reference list are left out.

The mine’s fiber in products (50)

• Alford v. Taylor-Seidenbach, Inc. (2025): “UCC's asbestos product, Calidria, was used as a drilling mud additive and sold under the names "Visbestos" and "Super Visbestos,"”
• Arbogast v. AW Chesterton Co. (2016): “Calidria was the product name given to a specific kind of asbestos fiber sold by Union Carbide to various manufacturers and producers who used Calidria in their products”
• Armanious v. 3M Co. (2014): “Mr. Nilsson was exposed to UCC Calidria used by Kentile Floors, Inc. ("Kentile") to manufacture floor tiles”
• Aubin v. Union Carbide Corporation (2015): “sold it in bulk under the trade name SG-210 Calidria for use in many products, including joint compounds and texture sprays”
• Bagwell v. Union Carbide Corporation (2019): “Mr. Bagwell's exposure to chrysotile asbestos, used in UCC and Montello's Calidria fiber products”
• Bakkie v. Union Carbide Corporation (2007): “American Poly-Therm's written product formula for OPM-200 included 52 pounds of Union Carbide's pure asbestos fiber, identified specifically by its brand-name, "Calidria."”
• Bakkie v. Union Carbide Corporation (2009): “he alleged that he was exposed to Union Carbide's `Calidria,' a type of asbestos, when he was employed at American Poly-Therm in 1974 and 1975”
• Barbarino v. BASF Catalysts, LLC (2016): “a 1975 invoice from Union Carbide to RCA, bearing the logo "Calidria Asbestos" to demonstrate that RCA purchased asbestos for its products”
• Berensmann v. 3M Co. (2013): “all available formulas of Ready Mix from the Akron, New York plant contained some Calidria-brand asbestos SG-210”
• Bier v. Am. Biltrite (2012): “decedent worked with products manufactured or supplied by Kentile Floors, Dal-Tile/American Olean, and Armstrong World Industries, all of which incorporated Union Carbide's Calidria asbestos”
• Budd v. Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. (2022): “During that time, Kaiser's joint compound contained Grade 7 chrysotile and Calidria chrysotile.”
• Collantes v. Elementis Chemicals, Inc. (2020): “The Hamilton joint compound contained Calidria, a type of asbestos mined and supplied by Union Carbide and distributed by Elementis”
• Conwed Corp. v. Union Carbide Corp. (2006): “Was the Calidria asbestos Union Carbide sold to Conwed in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the users of that asbestos”
• Conwed Corporation v. Union Carbide Corporation (2006): “Was the Calidria asbestos Union Carbide sold to Conwed in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the users of that asbestos”
• Conwed v. Union Carbide Chem. and Plastics (2001): “From 1965 to July 1974, Conwed used Union Carbide's Calidria, a chrysotile asbestos fiber, to make ceiling tiles in Conwed's Cloquet, Minnesota plant.”
• Day v. 3M Company Inc. (2024): “the joint compound and floor tiles allegedly used by Mr. Bonito contained UCC's Calidria asbestos”
• Dixon v. Ford Motor Company (2012): “Georgia Pacific pre- mixed drywall joint compound which, upon information and belief, contained Union Carbide Corporation's Calidria brand asbestos”
• Fernandez v. Union Carbide Corp. (2006): “At the relevant times, some of the compound formulas in the product contained Union Carbide's Calidria asbestos.”
• Flowers v. Union Carbide Corp. (2005): “Georgia-Pacific manufactured joint compounds, including Ready-Mix joint compound, that contained Calidria Asbestos purchased from Union Carbide Company.”
• Font v. Union Carbide Corp. (2016): “exposure to joint compound products and texture sprays designed, manufactured, and supplied by the defendants that contained Union Carbide's Calidria SG-210 asbestos”
• Font v. Union Carbide Corporation (2016): “exposure to joint compound products and texture sprays designed, manufactured, and supplied by the defendants that contained Union Carbide's Calidria SG-210 asbestos”
• Fowler v. Akzo Nobel Chemicals, Inc. (2017): “UCC supplied Calidria asbestos to this facility from 1970 to 1982.”
• Fowler v. Akzo Nobel Chemicals, Inc. (2021): “Union Carbide mined its asbestos from a mineral deposit in New Idria, California, that contained short-fiber chrysotile asbestos.”
• Fowler v. Akzo Nobel Chemicals, Inc. (2022): “Between 1969 and 1984, Union Carbide shipped fifty-six thousand pounds of its Calidria brand asbestos — packaged in ten-and forty-pound bags — to the Bloomfield Plant.”
• Gibbs v. 84 Lumber Company (2020): “UCC concedes that some of the Georgia-Pacific and National Gypsum joint compound that Mr. Gibbs used during the early-to-mid 1970s may have contained Calidria.”
• In re Asbestos Litigation (2019): “Union Carbide mined this type of chrysotile asbestos fiber—Calidria—and sold it to sophisticated third-party manufacturers who then used it in their own products.”
• In re Asbestos Litigation Sturgill v. 3M Company, Inc. (2017): “Union Carbide mined and milled a "unique short-fiber, tremolite-free, chrysotile asbestos fiber known as Calidria" which it sold to manufacturers”
• In re New York City Asbestos Litigation (2016): “Plaintiff argues that Campanella's and plaintiff's own description of the products that they encountered while working together match the description of Calidria Asbestos”
• In re New York City Asbestos Litigation (2018): “Mr. Nauheimer was exposed to asbestos in joint compound containing Calidria-asbestos fibers while performing residential renovation and construction work”
• In re New York City Asbestos Litigation (2019): “Kaiser Gypsum and Union Carbide Company executed a contract in New York to supply Calidria to Kaiser Gypsum's manufacturing plant”
• Logan v. AP Moller-Maersk, Inc. (2013): “It is undisputed that UCC sold SG-210 to GP and that SG-210 was integrated into GP's joint compound products.”
• Lovelace v. Elementis Chemicals, Inc. (2014): “Elementis distributed the Calidria asbestos to Kaiser Gypsum and Georgia-Pacific”
• Macek v. CBS Corporation (2013): “It is undisputed that UCC sold SG-210 to GP and that SG-210 was integrated into GP's joint compound products.”
• Marteney v. Union Carbide Corp. (2015): “Beginning in the early 1960's, UCC mined asbestos in King City, California, and shipped it to product manufacturers.”
• Neely EX rel. Estate OF Goehring v. Union Carbide Corporation (2021): “packaged . . . very small amounts [of Calidria asbestos] for Dresser-Magcobar under the trade name Visquik.”
• Rich v. Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. (2012): “Fred Rich alleged that he developed mesothelioma after breathing in Union Carbide's "Calidria" asbestos contained within Georgia Pacific's Ready-Mix.”
• Riggs v. Asbestos Corp. Ltd. (2013): “supplied the raw asbestos, a unique variety called Calidria,[5] that was used by Georgia-Pacific in the manufacturing of its tape joint compound between 1970 and 1977”
• Robertson v. Doug Ashy Building Materials, Inc. (2011): “the joint compound product market was one of the major market sectors that Union Carbide aimed for with its Calidria asbestos”
• Robertson v. Doug Ashy Building Materials, Inc. (2014): “Georgia-Pacific purchased raw asbestos fibers to manufacture its asbestos-containing drywall products from Union Carbide”
• Robinson v. Union Carbide Corporation (2019): “For many years, Georgia-Pacific included UCC's Calidria in joint compounds that it sold to consumers. Ms. Robinson alleges that her husband used these compounds.”
• Rockman v. Union Carbide Corp. (2017): “Georgia- Pacific, LLC ("Georgia-Pacific") "Ready Mix" joint compound that contained Calidria chrysotile asbestos supplied by Union Carbide Corporation”
• Rockman v. Union Carbide Corp. (2017): “mined, milled, manufactured and marketed to other asbestos product manufacturers a particular chrysotile asbestos product under the trade name Calidria asbestos”
• Sherin v. John Crane-Houdaille, Inc. (2014): “Union Carbide sold raw chrysotile asbestos fiber referred to as "SG-210" or "Calidria" to third-party manufacturers — including Georgia-Pacific and National Gypsum — who incorporated it into their products.”
• Stewart v. Union Carbide Corporation (2010): “Plaintiffs presented evidence that USG and Hamilton Materials obtained asbestos from Union Carbide, which mined chrysotile asbestos in Coalinga, California”
• Strickland v. Union Carbide Corp. (2013): “Union Carbide, the manufacturer of Calidria, a chrysotile asbestos product used in certain drywall joint compounds”
• Taylor v. Union Carbide Corporation (2008): “contained Union Carbide asbestos, which Lehnert identified by its brand names as "SG-210" or "Calidria."”
• Union Carbide Corporation v. Aubin (2012): “One of the ingredients used in those joint compounds and ceiling textures was a product mined, processed, and sold in bulk by Union Carbide named SG-210 Calidria”
• Union Carbide Corporation v. Aubin (2012): “One of the ingredients used in those joint compounds and ceiling textures was a product mined, processed, and sold in bulk by Union Carbide named SG-210 Calidria”
• Union Carbide Corporation v. Fields (2012): “Mrs. Fields was allegedly exposed to Union Carbide's Calidria asbestos contained in certain joint compound products used in the 1973 construction of Mrs. Fields' family home.”
• Vega v. Georgia-Pacific, LLC (2013): “The defendant mined, milled, manufactured, and processed chrysotile asbestos at the Coalinga deposit in King City, California, and marketed it under the trade name "Calidria."”

In medical studies

Medical studies in our research library that name this mine, by how they concern it. A search found every one that names the mine and an AI reader sorted them; the quotation, checked word for word against the text, shows where. Those that name the mine only in passing or in a reference list are left out.

Studies of the mine’s fiber (29)

• Bernstein DM 2003: Comparison of Calidria chrysotile asbestos to pure tremolite: inhalation biopersistence and histopathology following short-term exposure: “tence of a sample of commercial grade chrysotile from the Coalinga mine in New Idria, CA, of the type Calidria RG144 and of a long-fiber tremolite were studied”
• Bernstein DM 2005: Comparison of Calidria chrysotile asbestos to pure tremolite: final results of the inhalation biopersistence and histopathology examination following short-term exposure: “the biopersistence of a sample of commercial-grade chrysotile from the Coalinga mine in New Idria, CA, of the type Calidria RG144 and that of a long-fiber tremolite were studied”
• Chatfield EJ 2018: Measurement of elongate mineral particles: What we should measure and how do we do it?
• Cheng YS 2006: Evaluation of respirator filters for asbestos fibers: “Three asbestos fibers of different diameters were tested: an ultrafine chrysotile (Calidria), a UICC crocidolite, and a UICC amosite.”
• Hamilton JA 1981: Coagulation of human plasma by asbestos fibers: “In contrast, very short chrysotile fibers (Calidria) prolonged the PTT at 10 mg/ml”
• Hamilton JA 1981: Measurement of blood flow and vascular permeability changes in response to 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate and to asbestos fibers: “Samples (1 mg) of IARC chrysotile A (Asb,) and Calidria chrysotile Asb2) were injected ¡ntradermally”
• Hamilton JA 1983: Asbestos fibers, plasma and inflammation: “Calidria chrysotile pellets were ultrasonicated for 2 min to disaggregate the chrysotile to the smallest fibers.”
• Holian A 1994: Mechanisms associated with human alveolar macrophage stimulation by particulates: “Calidria asbestos RG-144 (Union Carbide, King City, CA), natural length 1-5 pm, 25 pg/mi”
• Langer AM 1978: Variation of properties of chrysotile asbestos subjected to milling: “Samples were obtained from the New Idria, California, deposit through the courtesy of Union Carbide Corp. This material, referred to as Calidria RG-144, was used for experimental purposes.”
• Lezon-Geyda K 1996: Chrysotile asbestos fibers mediate homologous recombination in Rat2 lambda fibroblasts: implications for carcinogenesis: “We have demonstrated that Calidria chrysotile fibers are mutagenic”
• MacCorkle RA 2006: Intracellular protein binding to asbestos induces aneuploidy in human lung fibroblasts: “Calidria Chrysotile (High purity oper-HPO fiber, received Nov, 1987 KCAC, King City, CA)”
• Morgan A 1997: Acid leaching studies of chrysotile asbestos from mines in the Coalinga region of California and from Quebec and British Columbia
• Morgan A 1997: Acid leaching studies of neutron-irradiated chyrsotile asbestos: “Samples of chrysotile from Quebec (UICC B and Jeffrey 4T-30) and from the Coalinga region of California (Calidria RG-144) were irradiated with thermal neutrons in a reactor.”
• Muhle H 1987: Inhalation and injection experiments in rats to test the carcinogenicity of MMMF: “compared with crocidolite (South Africa) and chrysotile (California, Calidria RG 144)”
• Nolan RP 1994: Lung content analysis of cases occupationally exposed to chrysotile asbestos: “Chrysotile, Calidria RG-144, chrysotile from New Idria, CA (commercially available from Union Carbide, New York, NY).”
• Perkins RC 1993: Human alveolar macrophage cytokine release in response to in vitro and in vivo asbestos exposure: “Cells from the normal volunteers were incubated with 25 pg/mL chrysotile asbestos (Calidria asbestos, RG-144 from Union Carbide; 1-5 pm in length)”
• Peterson MW 1993: Asbestos directly increases lung epithelial permeability: “It is a well-defined chrysotile asbestos (Calidria, Union Carbide) which has been”
• Peterson MW 1998: Asbestos-induced lung epithelial permeability: potential role of nonoxidant pathways: “ground Calidria asbestos previously described (32). We have demonstrated that this chrysotile asbestos increases cultured human lung epithelial permeability (25).”
• Pinkerton KE 1983: Characterization of three types of chrysotile asbestos after aerosolization
• Pott F 1991: Neoplastic findings in experimental asbestos studies and conclusions for fiber carcinogenesis in humans
• Puffer JH 1980: Asbestos distribution in the Central Serpentine District of Maryland-Pennsylvania
• Rittinghausen S 1992: Atypical malignant mesotheliomas with osseous and cartilaginous differentiation after intraperitoneal injection of various types of mineral fibres in rats: “induced by intraperitoneal injection of various types of asbestos fibres (asbestos cement, crocidolite, UICC-amosite, UICC-chrysotile B, Calidria-chrysotile)”
• Rohl AN 1976: Consumer talcums and powders: mineral and chemical characterization
• Scheule RK 1989: IgG specifically enhances chrysotile asbestos-stimulated superoxide anion production by the alveolar macrophage: “Chrysotile asbestos (Calidria asbestos, RG-144) was from Union Carbide (King City, CA).”
• Scheule RK 1990: Modification of asbestos bioactivity for the alveolar macrophage by selective protein adsorption: “Chrysotile asbestos (Calidria asbestos, RG-144) was from Union Carbide.”
• Suzuki Y 1984: Malignant mesothelioma induced by asbestos and zeolite in the mouse peritoneal cavity
• Thorne PS 1985: Physicochemical characterization of cryogenically ground, size separated, fibrogenic particles: “Chrysotile San Benito County, Calif. cl Calidria Div., Mg3Si205(OH)4 Monoclinic Union Carbide Corp.”
• Yeager H 1983: Cytotoxicity of a short-fiber chrysotile asbestos for human alveolar macrophages: preliminary observations: “RG 144 (Calidria) chrysotile E unmilled* 20.3 49.2 12.4 8.5 7.5 2.1”
• Yegles M 1995: Role of fibre characteristics on cytotoxicity and induction of anaphase/telophase aberrations in rat pleural mesothelial cells in vitro: correlations with in vivo animal findings: “Attapulgite from Momoiron (France) and Calidria chrysotile (KCAC, King City, USA) were also used.”

Other names

Documents call this mine “Santa Rita”, “Santa Rita mine”, “Santa Rita Mine”, “asbestos occurrence 35 miles northwest of Coalinga”, “Union Carbide Corp. (Nuclear Division), San Benito County”, “Joe 5 mine”, “Joe No. 5”, “KCAC Inc.”, “KCAC”, “KCAC Inc. mine and mill”, “deposit in San Benito County”, “Calidria asbestos deposit near Coalinga”.

See also

• Union Carbide Corp.: the company's documents, people, products and plants
• Calidria Corp.: the company's documents, people, products and plants
• KCAC Inc.: the company's documents, people, products and plants
• Union Carbide Corp., Nuclear Division: the company's documents, people, products and plants
• Asbestos exposure sites in California
• All asbestos mines

References

1. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1960 (January 1, 1961), p. 2.
2. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1961 (January 1, 1962), p. 2.
3. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1962 (January 1, 1963), p. 2.
4. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1963 (January 1, 1964), p. 2.
5. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1964 (January 1, 1965), p. 2.
6. Asbestos Magazine, 1966, June 1966 (June 1, 1966), p. 23.
7. Asbestos Magazine, 1971, October 1971 (October 1, 1971), p. 10.
8. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1976 (January 1, 1977), pp. 2–3.
9. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 2002 (January 1, 2003), p. 1.
10. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1982 (January 1, 1983), pp. 2–3.
11. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1983 (January 1, 1984), p. 2.
12. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1997 (January 1, 1998), p. 1.
13. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1959 (January 1, 1960), p. 2.
14. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1965 (January 1, 1966), p. 2.
15. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1968 (January 1, 1969), p. 2.
16. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1971 (January 1, 1972), p. 2.
17. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1972 (January 1, 1973), p. 2.
18. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1973 (January 1, 1974), pp. 2–3.
19. Asbestos Magazine, 1975, December 1975 (December 1, 1975), p. 22.
20. Asbestos Magazine, 1981, January 1981 (January 1, 1981), p. 13.
21. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1974 (January 1, 1975), p. 2.
22. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1975 (January 1, 1976), pp. 2–3.
23. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1977 (January 1, 1978), p. 2.
24. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1978–79 (January 1, 1980), pp. 3–4.
25. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1980 (January 1, 1981), p. 3.
26. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1981 (January 1, 1982), p. 3.
27. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1984 (January 1, 1985), pp. 2–3.
28. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1985 (January 1, 1986), p. 2.
29. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1986 (January 1, 1987), pp. 2–3.
30. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1987 (January 1, 1988), p. 2.
31. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1988 (January 1, 1989), p. 2.
32. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1989 (January 1, 1990), p. 2.
33. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1994 (January 1, 1995), p. 1.
34. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1998 (January 1, 1999), p. 1.
35. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1999 (January 1, 2000), p. 1.
36. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 2000 (January 1, 2001), p. 2.
37. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 2001 (January 1, 2002), p. 1.
38. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1996 (January 1, 1997), p. 1.
39. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1969 (January 1, 1970), p. 3.
40. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1970 (January 1, 1971), p. 2.
41. Asbestos Magazine, 1973, January 1973 (January 1, 1973), p. 40.
42. Asbestos Magazine, 1976, December 1976 (December 1, 1976), p. 27.
43. Asbestos Magazine, 1977, December 1977 (December 1, 1977), p. 22.
44. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1990 (January 1, 1991), p. 2.
45. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1991 (January 1, 1992), p. 2.
46. Minerals Yearbook: Asbestos Chapters, 1995 (January 1, 1996), p. 1.