  fuller's earth is any clay material that has the capability to decolorize oil or other liquids without chemical treatment. fuller's earth typically consists of palygorskite (attapulgite) or bentonite. modern uses of fuller's earth include absorbents for oil, grease, and animal waste and as a carrier for pesticides and fertilizers. minor uses include filtering, clarifying, and decolorizing; and as filler in paint, plaster, adhesives, and pharmaceuticals. == etymology == the name reflects the historic use of the material for cleaning or "fulling" wool by textile workers called "fullers". in past centuries, fullers kneaded fuller's earth and water into woollen cloth to absorb lanolin, oils, and other greasy impurities as part of the cloth finishing process. fuller's earth is also sometimes referred to as 'bleaching clay', probably because fulling whitened the cloth. == occurrence and composition == fuller's earth consists primarily of hydrous aluminum silicates (clay minerals) of varying composition. common components are montmorillonite, kaolinite and attapulgite. small amounts of other minerals may be present in fuller's earth deposits, including calcite, dolomite, and quartz. in some localities fuller's earth refers to calcium bentonite, which is altered volcanic ash composed mostly of montmorillonite.klein, cornelis. "mineral science" john wiley & sons, inc. 2002 in 2005, the united states was the largest producer of fuller's earth with an almost 70% world share followed at a distance by japan and mexico. in the united states fuller's earth is typically derived from deposits of volcanic ash of cretaceous age and younger (glacial clays do not form fuller's earth). fuller's earth deposits have been mined in 24 states. in england, fuller's earth occurs mainly in the lower greensand. it has also been mined in the vale of white horse, oxfordshire, england. the combe hay mine was a fuller's earth mine operating to the south of bath, somerset until 1979. othe
Dry_cleaning Medicinal_clay Minerals Types_of_soil