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Earth's Living Clay - Calcium Bentonite (Montmorillonite) Green Clay

Earth's Living Clay is a calcium based all natural Bentonite clay of the Montmorillonite/Smectite group. Unlike other clays, only Smectites can absorb and adsorb.  It is characterized by its expandable properties.  Earth's Living Clay is often referred to as a green swelling clay. On a molecular level, Robert T. Marin, a mineralogist at MIT, points to Bentonite’s minute particle size that creates a large surface area in proportion to the volume used. “The greater the surface area, the greater its power to pick up positively charged particles (toxins) of ions.” Mr. Marin stated that one gram of clay has a surface area of 800 square meters. That equates to about 8 football fields in size. Thus the greater the surface area the greater the power to pick up positive charged ions many times its own weight.” Swelling clays of the right mineral composition have a great potential for absorption. Because its adsorptive properties have not been compromised by air or ground water contaminants, this highly charged all natural Calcium Bentonite (Montmorillonite Green Clay has a drawing power of 33 times its molecular weight and an Alkalinity PH of 9.7.  Its extremely strong adsorptive and absorptive properties make it ideal for use in deep cleansing, clarifying of the skin, facial masks, body wraps, detoxification, clay baths and many other uses.  Out clay can also help to keep your pets healthy.

Our clay is obtained from a volcanic sub-surface mine in California.  It is a rare desert clay that has been protected from leaching by the climate.  This clay deposit was sealed away and isolated from the natural elements by a cap of zeolite minerals.  Because its adsorptive properties have not been compromised by air or ground water contaminants, this highly charged, 325 screen mesh Calcium Bentonite (Montmorillonite) Green Clay has drawing power that is uniquely strong.  It is the ONLY clay we will use in our products because we want only the best for our customers!

How Calcium Bentonite (Montmorillonite) Green Clay Works – Adsorption and Absorption

The two words are similar but their differences are fundamental to understanding how clay minerals function and how clay works. Adsorption describes the process by which the charged particles of other substances combine with the charged particles on the outer surface of the clay molecule.  First imagine the structure of the clay molecule to be similar to a stack of business cards with spaces in between the cards. The clay molecule has unsatisfied ionic bonds around its edges and naturally seeks to satisfy those bonds. For this to happen it must come into contact with a molecule of another substance with unsatisfied bonds that carry an opposite electrical (ionic) charge. When the two molecules meet, the ions held on the outer surface of the clay molecule are exchanged with the ions held on the outside surface of the molecule of the other substance.

Clay molecules carry a negative electrical charge while toxins and other impurities carry a positive charge. Positively charged toxins are attracted to the negatively charged surfaces of the clay molecule. An exchange reaction occurs in which the clay mineral ions are swapped for the ions of the toxic substance. The clay molecule is now electrically satisfied and holds onto the toxin until eliminated.

Absorption is a slower and more complex process. Acting like a sponge, the clay molecule draws other substances into its internal structure. Absorption can only occur when the foreign substance has undergone a chemical change and is then allowed to enter the clay’s molecular inner structure. Once the foreign substance has undergone the chemical change, it enters into the spaces between the clay’s inner structures. So the toxins that were formerly only sticking to the surface of the clay’s outer structure through ionic bonding, are now pulled inside the clay molecule. This is the primary reason why absorptive clays are labeled as mobile layered or expandable clays. The more substances that are pulled into the clay’s inner structure, the more the clay expands and its layers swell.

All absorbent clays have a charge on their inner layers. This means that charged ions sit between the layers of the clay molecule surrounded by water molecules. The clay expands as foreign substances are absorbed and fill the spaces between the clay molecule’s stacked layers. Absorbent clay will absorb positively charged toxins and impurities and ignore negatively charged nutrients. For more information on how clay works, and it's many uses, we highly recommend Perry A's book, Living Clay.  Her book is sold on this web site.