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Montmorillonite /
Bentonite Clay
by Chris Neaves
The description of
montmorillonite is :-
one of a number of clay
minerals within the
Smectite Group. It forms
by weathering or
hydrothermal alteration
of other aluminum-rich
minerals, and is
particularly common in
altered volcanic ashes
called bentonites. The
description of bentonite
is :- a native,
colloidal, hydrated,
non-metallic mineral of
the Smectite Group that
is primarily composed of
the mineral
montmorillonite.
And further -
Montmorillonite is a
member of the general
mineral group - the
clays. It is the main
constituent in a
volcanic ash called
bentonite.
One of the confusing
aspect of commercially
available
montmorillonite clays is
the use of two names for
exactly the same
mineral.
Montmorillonite clays
are bentonite clays and
bentonite clays are
montmorillonite clays.
They are not two
separate minerals as we
think. They are one and
the same thing. All
types of bentonite clays
are grouped together
under the
Montmorillonite or
Smectite group of clays.
To speak of one is to
speak of the other.
Marketing of various
brand names using the
different terminology
for the same thing, in
the same text, is often
responsible for the
confusion that arises.
Montmorillonite was
named after its
discovery locality,
Montmorillon, France in
the 1800's. Bentonite
was named after Fort
Benton, Montana, near
which it was discovered.
It is typically white,
grey, or buff in colour
but may have tints of
yellow, pink, or blue.
Montmorillonite has a
pearly or dull lustre
and is translucent.
Montmorillonite clays
are mined in various
parts of the world.
Deposits are found in
Italy, Greece. Cyprus,
the Philippines, South
Africa, Brazil, England,
Japan, Romania, Germany,
Mexico, Argentina,
Spain, India, Hungary,
Poland, Canada, Turkey,
Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, and Texas.
Various purities are
found in different
regions. In some parts
of the world
montmorillonite clays
were formed during the
Jurassic period many
millions of years ago.
Others originate from
later periods. Just like
all minerals in the
earth, the quality of
the deposit will vary
from area to area and
country to country.
Whilst some are of
excellent quality others
are not very pure.
Because montmorillonite
clay is used as a human
health food as well as
in the fish industry,
claims by health experts
make interesting
reading. An average
mineral analysis of
Montmorillonite by
health experts
demonstrate it contains
no less than 67
minerals, including
vital trace minerals.
Recently it has been
recognized and utilized
by the cosmetic industry
and by soil experts, who
value it as an
exceptionally good
agricultural
enhancement: crops grow
faster, taste better,
and are more resistant
to disease.
Montmorillonite contains
a balance of minerals in
their natural colloidal
form, making it easily
assimilated. The
minerals present in
montmorillonite enhance
the production of
enzymes in all living
organisms.
Some deposits contain
only 30% - 40% of its
base elements
(montmorillonite). This
is considered a low
grade in the mining
industry. In order to
improve the grading
(purity) some products
have to be refined or
processed. The other 60%
- 70% of unwanted
material has to be
removed. Only after
refinement does it
achieve a 80 or 90%
purity as claimed.
Montmorillonite are
naturally mineral rich
clays, formed many
millions of years ago
under certain geological
conditions - therefore,
it appears that some
products have a
percentage of minerals
added to bring the
quality up to an
acceptable level.
There are several forms
of montmorillonite
available on the market.
Some products are a pure
montmorillonite clay.
Others are a less pure
form and have to be
processed to remove and
eliminate impurities
they are mined with.
Some claim to have
bacteria additives. Some
may have additives to
the clay such as extra
minerals, above what is
naturally found in the
clay. Whilst others are
a montmorillonite clay /
zeolite powder
formulations.
Montmorillonite clays,
depending of the
chemical composition and
purity, enhances water
quality, replenish and
enhance minerals and
remove certain unwanted
wastes. The uses and
benefits go further than
this. Montmorillonite
improves the lustre and
skin quality of koi as
well as heightening the
colour. Added to food it
is claimed to aid
digestion and increase
the koi’s ability to
assimilate the vitamins
and minerals required in
their diet.
Some claims are made
that organic waste such
as DOC will be removed
from the pond. The ionic
exchange capacity is
increased. i.e. The scum
on the pond can be
reduced and perhaps
eliminated by using
Montmorillonite.
The idea that
Montmorillonite clays
could be used in the
remineralisation of
ponds originate in
Japan. Natural mud ponds
are lined with bentonite
to seal them. It was
also discovered that
feeding small quantities
to koi and occasionally
bathing then in it or
adding regulated dosages
to the pond resulted in
wonderful and
significant effects on
their colour and lustre.
Montmorillonite can be
easily added to your
daily ration of food.
This is an excellent
idea as it will
replicate the koi
feeding continuously off
minute mineral rich
particles on the floor
of mud dams.
By treating
Montmorillonite with
soda ash, the
meta-bentonite Sodium
Bentonite, can absorb
water and swell to about
20 times their dry
volume and give rise to
permanent suspensions of
gellike masses. The
sub-bentonites,
containing calcium
become Calcium Bentonite
or Montmorillonite, do
not swell to this extent
but are still capable of
absorbing from their
surrounding at a
phenomenal rate and
contain as many minerals
as Sodium bentonite.
Calcium bentonites are
nonswelling and break
down to a finely
granular aggregate that
is widely used as an
absorbent clay.
Bentonite/Montmorillonite
is used to seal dams, in
bonding foundry sands,
asbestos, and mineral
wool, as drilling muds,
in portland cements and
concrete, ceramics,
emulsions, insecticides,
soaps, pharmaceuticals,
and paints, in the
manufacture of paper,
for clarifying water,
juices, and liquors, and
as a water softener to
remove calcium from hard
water, removing colour
from mineral and
vegetable oils, also
used as catalyst
supports and absorbents
in petroleum refining.
The montmorillonite
minerals are composed of
hydrous aluminum
silicates in the form of
extremely small
particles. They take up
water between their
layers, causing
swelling, and change the
interlayer spacing
according to the mineral
variety. In addition to
being involved in
inorganic exchange
reactions, they react
with and absorb some
organic liquids, such as
amines, glycols,
glycerols, and other
polyhydric alcohols.
For the koi hobbyist
montmorillonite is used
directly in the pond
water each week in the
recommended dosage. Some
types disperse more
easily than others. Some
have to be mixed with
water before application
whilst others can be
sprinkled directly onto
the pond surface. The
pond will clear in about
6 - 10 hours, depending
on the amount of organic
material in the pond,
but the montmorillonite
will remain active. Do
not be worried in a new
pond if the water does
not clear in a day or
two.
Also the clay can be
mixed with the food.
Coat damp pellets
lightly with
montmorillonite. Feed a
few times a week.
SOURCE: This
article has been
reproduced from
Clay vs. Clay
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