I haven't been keeping up with this site, so missed the post stating that slate and tile outlast asbestos cement shingles two to three times.
Here in the Houston Gulf Coast area there are thousands of old houses that still have their original Johns Manville asbestos cement roofs. They have held up under hurricane winds and high heat. I've never heard of one wearing out, any more than I've heard of a tile roof wearing out. I'm sure they have a fixed lifetime, but it's more than 80 years, based on the houses in this area.
Regarding slate roofing, it is not possible to make a blanket statement about the lifespan of slate. Some slate roofs are virtually everlasting due to the quality of the material. Others may deliver a lifespan of only a few decades. I recommend a book entitled "The Slate Roof Bible" by Joseph Jenkins, which you can get through Amazon.com.
The subject is becoming academic, since asbestos cement roofing slates are no longer manufactured or sold in this country due to asbestos health concerns.
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