It is important to know that only Zonolite brand vermiculite contains asbestos. But how do you know if the vermiculite in your attic contains it? Some will tell you that vermiculite of such a color almost always contains asbestos, this statement is totally FALSE! The only reliable method to identify if vermiculite contains asbestos is to perform a vermiculite test in a laboratory. However, if you find a Zonolite brand bag in your attic, you can save yourself this expense, it is definitely contaminated with asbestos.
A vermiculite test involves taking 3 vermiculite samples from random places in your attic. It is particularly important to recover the layer of vermiculite at the bottom and to take the dust which is present there. The analysis will therefore confirm or rule out the presence of asbestos in your vermiculite.