Bentonite is a type of clay consisting primarily of montmorillonite, a fine-grained mineral formed from volcanic ash. It's named after Fort Benton, Wyoming, where the largest known deposit of bentonite clay was discovered.
Bentonite has a unique structure characterized by its high surface area and strong adsorption properties. Due to these properties, it finds a wide range of applications across various industries:
Drilling Fluids: In the oil and gas industry, bentonite is used in drilling fluids to lubricate and cool the cutting tools, remove drill cuttings, and seal the borehole walls to prevent fluid loss.