Quality Bentonite

October 5, 2005

Joel T Akin

If bentonite were the perfect clay what would its purposes be? Now when we think of clay we chose a pattern for a model and the mode of its uses are many. Take the model and pattern it after a desire of your heart such as, lets say a vase. A vase is a shape, a matter of shape and design. You design it and proportion it according to what is in your mind. All the shapes are like that. But Bentonite is a different type of material found in various parts of the world including Alberta. It is gumbo, sticky, slick and is unusual in its properties. It had a tendency to be used by the pioneers on their wagon wheels, by the natives to clean their hands, by roofers to waterproof and has other intrinsic factors that keep it an interesting material. But what is bentonite and what is its true purpose?

 To hold onto this matter requires a thinking knowledge and we have to weigh out the factors and counter them with understanding. Bentonite is a factorial knowledge of the earth. It carries within it a propensity of soap and a propensity of floating while at the same time mixing with the materials that are used with it. For example if you dry it out then it might sink but the more like factor is it would float. Try it sometime and see what happens. If it floats then it tends to be water resistant.

Clays have special properties that allow them to line up their molecular structure into single lines. These lines are made up of poly dactyl type materials which give some bend in their structure. If you bend the clay before it is fired of course, the clay will align itself along that line you have helped set up. The benefits of this is a case in point. You can react with ease in making the clay your friend and allowing it to firm or cajole or react with the desires of your heart. Give it a whirl, see it spin, link it to your thoughts, and whammo, a product on a table fit for a king. Still there are things and properties about bentonite that are mysterious. First is its ability to absorb water. It just keeps drinking and drinking and drinking until surely there must be some problem going on. This soup that is created is a rare mixture which can be used in bathing, mud soup wise, and in mixing with salt.

Why Salt? The best answer to that is to give it friction. Most bentonite is next to frictionless. It has the slickest properties this side of the Tetons. Seriously folks you could slide on this stuff all the way to the moon. It holds and holds and holds as long as you keep it wet. So take some wet water and mix it and see what happens. How long it expands? Do you need an expansion joint? Then add this stuff. Do you need a precursor to ammonia? Then add this stuff and see it have a reaction. In reality the bentonite is an amazing clay. It will hold things in place yet allow you to navigate around it with ease. Put it on the floor and it makes a mess but make it for the floor and its beauty is really nice. Mix it with fibers and watch it expand into them and make it a gooey mess. But once molded that will give it the properties you desire. All in all bentonite lives up to a common lifestyle. Once where you can use it like the peanut and come up with hundreds of other uses. Have fun.