Is is safe to conclude that this is what i found.
White powder in attic.
The moisture picks up minerals carries them to the surface of the masonry and leaves them behind in the form of tiny crystals on the surface as the moisture evaporates.
White powdery substance in attic.
It is difficult to declare this one substance over another simply based on one s senses of sight or smell.
The client will certainly expect an explanation for this white material on the roof rafters in the attic.
This growth while harmless can appear very similar to white mold growth.
When looking for attic mold trace both leak.
It is a manufactured product made by melting basaltic rock and dolomite with added binders.
Rock wool is usually gray white off white or brownish white.
In the attic photograph at left we show a mix of green gray and white attic mold.
The photo at page top shows white attic mold on the roof sheathing and rafters and some brown or black mold on the attic side of ceiling drywall where we pulled back insulation.
When the water evaporates a white fluffy structure is left behind.
The house was originally built in 1979 but the powder was also in areas of the attic which were added later due to additions.
I did some searching and read a few things that talked about baby powder or talc powder being used as a deterrent for ants.
After all some mold shows up as a white powdery material but more often in a crawl space than an attic.
The white material which appears on brick is a powdery mass of minerals called efflorescence.
I found white powder spread in an attic.
The raw material is heated to 2 750 degrees fahrenheit until it melts then the molten material is spun into fibers with air pressure.
Click to view.
Common areas of white mold growth include attic sheathing and crawlspace framing.
White mold can be found anywhere conditions conducive to mold growth are present.
Efflorescence occurs when moisture moves through concrete or other masonry.