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Calcium Bentonite Answers

Posted by Chris Neaves (CJN) on 5/10/2008, 4:47 am
196.2.124.251

An article I wrote some years ago my answer some of your questions - enjoy. It is in two parts as th emessage board bloked the original article as too large. Montmorillonite Part 1 The addition of montmorillonite clays to fish ponds have proven benefits. Many koi keepers used these clays with great success. Montmorillonite clays are commercially available under various brand names depending on the country of origin. Montmorillonite clays, vary in chemical composition and purity, enhance water quality, replenish and augment 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. Some koi keepers use very high dosages to remove suspended algae. There are several forms of brand names 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 brands claim to have bacteria additives. Other 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 formulation. It is interesting to note that a 100% montmorillonite will form a gel when mixed with water and not dissolve into the system. So in this case a little “impurity” is actually required. The montmorillonite minerals are composed of hydrous aluminium 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. Montmorillonite was named after its discovery locality, Montmorillon, France in the 1800's. Bentonite (Montmorillonite) was discovered in Wyoming, in Fort Benton shale - hence the name bentonite. One of the confusing aspects 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. 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. Montmorillonite has the chemical formula (NaCa)0.33(Al,Mg)2Si4O10(OH)2.nH20. It has a relative density (specific gravity) of 2.0 to 2.7, and a hardness of 2. Many trace elements and minerals are contained in this clay such as - Silicon Dioxide, Aluminium Sulphate, Iron Oxide, Iron compound, Sulphur Dioxide, Calcium Oxide, Magnesium Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Potassium, Sodium, Calcium carbonate, Phosphorous allotrope. 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. In some areas the clay is near the surface. In others, many meters of soil has to be removed to get to the clay vein which may be only a meter or two wide and a meter deep, but runs for many kilometres. Just across the border in Mozambique there is a large deposit of bentonite at the surface. It has the most incredible pale yellow colour and is very pure. 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. Montmorillonite/bentonite clays are mined in various parts of the world. A very large deposit and a 90% pure form is mined in the U.S.A. in Wyoming. Other deposits are found in Italy, Cyprus the Philippines, Brazil, England, Japan and the Philippines - and a very high grade is mined in a certain part of South Africa. Regards, Chris Part 2 to follow

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