Bentonite: A multi-use mineral

Bentonite is defined as a kind of absorbent clay formed by the breakdown of volcanic ash, used esp. as filler. Bentonite clay has been gaining fame in recent years as an internal and external purifier for very good reasons. Not all Bentonite Clay is created equal; most of it is not mined for internal use or sifted as finely as it should be.

 

Bentonite is classified into two:

  • One is called the swelling type or Sodium Bentonite, which has single water layer particles containing “Na” as the exchangeable ion.
  • The other has double water layer particles with Ca as the exchangeable ion. It is called Calcium Bentonite or non-swelling type. “Na” or “Ca” is exchanged by “Mg” or “Fe“
SKC-bentonite-main
Quartz
Quartz

Quartz is a hard, crystalline mineral composed of silicon and oxygen atoms. It is the second most abundant mineral in Earth’s continental crust, behind feldspar. As a mineral name, quartz refers to a specific chemical compound (silicon dioxide, or silica, SiO2), having a specific crystalline form (hexagonal).

Its unique properties make it one of the most useful natural substances. It is found in all forms of rocks: Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary.

Quartz is physically and chemically resistant to weathering.

Feldspar
Feldspar is by far the most abundant group of minerals in the earth’s crust, forming about 60% of terrestrial rocks. Most deposits offer sodium feldspar as well as potassium feldspar and mixed feldspars. Feldspars are primarily used in industrial applications for their alumina and alkali content. The term feldspar encompasses a whole range of materials.

 

Most of the products we use on a daily basis are made with feldspar: glass for drinking, glass for protection, fiberglass for insulation, the floor tiles and shower basins in our bathrooms, and the tableware from which we eat. Feldspar is part of our daily life.

Feldspar