Knowra Kaolin Kaolin Kaolin is a naturally occurring, clay-rich material composed mainly of kaolinite. Its whiteness, fine particle size, and low shrinkage make it useful in ceramics, paper, and other products.
Kaolinite : A layered aluminosilicate mineral with the chemical formula Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄. It is the principal mineral in most kaolin deposits.
Porcelain : A hard, dense ceramic made by firing a refined mixture of kaolin, feldspar, and silica. Kaolin supplies the plasticity and alumina needed in many porcelain bodies.
Kaolinization : The chemical alteration of feldspar-rich rock into kaolinite and related minerals. This weathering process forms many primary kaolin deposits.
Residual kaolin deposit : A kaolin deposit formed in place by weathering of feldspar-rich parent rock. Residual deposits preserve the link between kaolin and its source rock.
Bentonite : A clay-rich rock dominated by swelling smectite minerals, especially montmorillonite. Unlike kaolin, bentonite swells strongly in water and has high binding capacity.
Clay minerals : Fine-grained hydrous minerals that develop plasticity when mixed with water. Kaolin is a clay-rich material made chiefly from one clay mineral.
Paper coating : A surface layer applied to paper to improve smoothness, printability, and appearance. Fine white kaolin particles make a widely used paper-coating pigment.
Hydrothermal alteration : Chemical and mineralogical change caused by heated, mineral-rich fluids moving through rock. Hydrothermal fluids can form kaolin deposits by altering feldspar-bearing rocks.
Sedimentary kaolin deposit : A kaolin deposit formed when weathered clay was transported, sorted, and redeposited. Transport and sedimentation can produce deposits with distinct particle sizes and impurities.
Ball clay : A fine-grained, plastic sedimentary clay used mainly in ceramic bodies. Ball clay is typically more plastic and less white than kaolin.
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