I used to know it as SRBF, Silicon Resin Bonded Fibre. You reminded me when you mentioned the smell. It has a very hard surface, the core isn't much softer, and will blunt almost everything you cut it with. If you can, use metal working tools. Watch out for any flakes as they have a sharp edge. Great stuff for jigs and table surfaces as it cleans well, is stable, and is naturally quite slippery. Out of interest you might like to know that it will take a course thread, maybe not to carry weight, but certainly for positioning.
There is a variant called SRBP, Paper instead of Fabric. To all intents and purposes that stuff is very like the core of true Formica.
HTH xy.