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Subject:
Rhassoul clay, a smectite clay
Category: Science Asked by: soapplease-ga List Price: $10.00 |
Posted:
08 Sep 2004 08:05 PDT
Expires: 08 Oct 2004 08:05 PDT Question ID: 398354 |
Is Rhassoul Clay, used in spa body soaps and treatments, a sustainable resource? |
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There is no answer at this time. |
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Subject:
Re: Rhassoul clay, a smectite clay
From: hfshaw-ga on 08 Sep 2004 13:26 PDT |
In a word, no. Rhassoul clay is a mineral resource that comes from a natural deposit of finite extent. See http://www.snowdriftfarm.com/form_rhassoul.html. Like any other mineral deposit it will eventually be "mined out" (or get so expensive to mine that it is no longer economically feasible to mine). Rhassoul clay is primarily composed of the mineral montmorillonite, (Na, Ca)(Al, Mg)6(Si4O10)3(OH)6 * nH2O, which is a member of the smectite group of clays. Smectites are "swelling clays" that expand in volume when they are exposed to water (and, conversely, shrink when they dry out). Deposits of montmorillonite-rich clays are often called "bentonite". The Rhassoul deposit (in the Atlas Mtns. of Morocco) is but one of the many deposits of smectitic clays around the world, and we are not in any danger of running short of this mineral any time soon. General information on clay minerals: http://pubs.usgs.gov/info/clays/ Information on clay minerals as a commodity: http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/clays/ References on bentonite as an industrial commodity: http://minerals.er.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/clays/bentoniteref.pdf Reference on mineral production (including clay output) of Morocco: http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/africa.html#mo |
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