Vermiculite is a silver-gold to gray-brown mineral that is flat and shiny in its natural state. When heated to around 1000 degrees C, it pops (or puffs up) which creates pockets of air. This expanded form, and the fact that vermiculite does not burn, made the material suitable for use as insulation.
Original Article Source Credits: CCOHS , https://www.ccohs.ca/
Article Written By: NA
Original Article Posted on: February 2, 2016
Link to Original Article: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/vermiculite.html