Wyoming bentonite Racing into the 21st century

摘要

The Wyoming bentonite industry begins its history in the late 1800s when the mineral was mined and shipped to the eastern United States in small quantities for a variety of uses. These end uses were derived from the near grit-free texture of the mineral when hydrated and its ability to form viscous, colloidal suspensions. Like many clay minerals, it had the ability to coat sand grains and act as a natural 'glue' for use in metal casting. The mineral also has the ability to exchange cations, giving rise to a host of sorptive uses. The industry has grown substantially since bentonite's early use as a sepciality mineral. Market demands are forecast to be in the range of 3.4 to 3.7m. tpa in the year 2000. The United States is now the largest bentonite producer worldwide and the only producer of Wyoming hentonite.