Special clays: Gelling new markets
By IM Staff
Published: Friday, 09 June 2017
Hectorite has attracted significant attention in the last few years as a potential source of lithium, while clays like attapulgite and sepiolite have for decades been important sources of speciality material. Ian Wilson, Consultant*, offers a snapshot of the special clays sector.
Special clays are a group of products derived from a number
of different clay minerals found in a wide range of geological
environments.
Two important mineral groups within the special clays field
are the smectite group, which includes montmorillonite,
saponite and hectorite, generally referred to as bentonites;
and the...