Attapulgite Clay IslandAttapulgiteAttapulgite is a kind of crystalloid hydrous magnesium-aluminum silicate mineral, having a special laminated chain structure in which there is a crystalline lattice displacement existed. Thus it makes the crystals contain uncertain quantities of Na+, Ca+, Fe3+ and Al, and present in the shape of needles, fibers or fibrous clusters. Attapulgite has very good colloidal properties such as: specific features in dispersion, high temperature endurance, salt and alkali resistance, and also high adsorbing and de-coloring capabilities. Furthermore, attapulgite has certain plastic and adhesive characters. Its ideal molecular formula is:Mg5Si8O20(HO)2(OH2)4•4H2O. The structure is somewhat between laminated and chain structure. Attapulgite looks like soil, and compact blocks which are found 
in the sedimentary rocks and the weathering crust. Attapulgite are 
white, hoar, caesious or celadon, or with some dim mercerization 
in color. The clay of attapulgite is fine and a bit greasy smooth, 
light in weight, crispy, and the fractured surface is like shells 
or in irregular shapes. Attapulgite has strong ability to absorb 
water. When it is wet, attapulgite shows plastic and adhesive properties; 
and when it gets dry,attapulgite does not shrink much and does not 
show cracks. When it is soaked in water,attapulgite collapses. The 
suspending liquid does not create soliquids and precipitates, when 
meeting electrolytes.
Attapulgite clay mineral resources distribute in only several countries 
in the world at the present. Attapulgite reserve capacity of Xuyi 
contains the 70% in China, and 35% in the world. Compared to the 
largest commercial attapulgite deposits in the United States, Xuyi 
attapulgite products have the following special features:
Because the geological conditions under which Chinese attapulgite 
was deposited are different from that of the USA attapulgite deposits, 
our attapulgite products have very low grit (percentage retained 
on a 325 mesh wet screen), low free silica content, and low carbonate 
content. 
Selectively mined and processed attapulgite products have a very 
high dispersion viscosity and API yield. The products processed 
from naturally occurring mixtures of attapulgite show especially 
high dispersion viscosity, high API yield, and extremely low grit. 
As = 0.5
Pb = 1
Hg = 0.3
Toxicological test result of the attapulgite: Both Nanjing Municipal 
Sanitation and Antiepidemic Station and Nanjing Municipal Foodstuff 
Research Institute have carried out "The Comprehensive Sanitation 
and Safety Assessment on the Attapulgite Clay, a Natural Foodstuff 
Processing adjuvant". Their test results are as follows: Such 
heavy metals as arsenic, lead and mercury are not detectable in 
the attapulgite clay product, while total iron, sulfates, chlorides, 
nitrites, etc. are within the limits called for by the standards 
for processing adjuvant concerned. The tests on the content of the 
natural r