Attapulgite, a clay mineral, has various uses and can be mined using surface mining techniques. It has medicinal uses, is absorbent and is used in animal litter, liquid fertilizers, paints, and drilling muds. It is sold in bulk to manufacturers or through trade associations.
Attapulgite is a clay mineral with a broad spectrum of uses. Natural resource companies can mine it using surface mining techniques and process it in a variety of ways, depending on how it will be used. Large deposits exist in regions including the state of Georgia in the United States. It has a distinctive grayish-blue color that has made it a popular pigment for art and pottery projects with some American Indian communities. In addition to its use in making pottery, it also has a range of medicinal uses.
Chemically, attapulgite is composed of aluminum magnesium phyllosilicate and can have varying impurities depending on the source. It can be processed to produce a variety of clays with different physical structures, containing silicate needles or particles. Companies that work with this material typically offer a range of products for their customers and can produce special needs clay at the request of their customers.
One use of this clay is in medicine. Attapulgite is very absorbent and can be given to patients with diarrhea. It can absorb some of the water to firm up the stool and make the patient feel more comfortable, as well as reduce the risk of dehydration. The clay may also reduce the bacterial population of the intestines, for patients with diarrhea caused by an intestinal infection. This use has ancient origins in regions such as South America, where the Mayans exploited this useful quality in their traditional medical practice.
The absorbent nature of this product also makes it useful for animal litter such as cat litter, as well as other applications where absorption is needed to handle messes and spills. Powdered clay can be ground to make suspensions for liquid fertilizers and paints. It is also used in the production of drilling muds for oil and gas applications. Drilling muds provide lubrication for a variety of drilling tasks, with formulations depending on the setting and conditions.
Suppliers of attapulgite typically sell it in bulk to manufacturers who further process it to make commercial products. It is sometimes possible to purchase raw batches of clay through some suppliers, for companies that need to make attapulgite products and cannot order batches large enough to work directly through the manufacturers. Trade associations can also work with mining companies to buy lots to distribute to their members. This allows companies to access wholesale pricing without having to order volumes needed for manufacturer delivery.
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