Asbestos cement is usually manufactured using chrysotile (white asbestos), although crocidolite (blue asbestos) and amosite (brown asbestos) are used for some products. The asbestos fibres and fibre bundles usually exhibit a preferred orientation subparallel to the length of the sheet, tile, or pipe that they are incorporated within. 
Since the early 1900s, cement has been reinforced with naturally occurring asbestos fibres to make asbestos cement (AC). This is much used for things like water pipes, corrugated roofing sheets, and building boards. Chrysolite is generally used as a reinforcing material in asbestos-cement building products.