"...of course, stales confused the hell out the situation by using another name for kaolin --but his description, a clay that absorbs water, and is used as a medicine for diarrhea, fits kaolin!
Helen, Helen, Helen....
Kaolinite ain't Attapulgite (Kitty Litter).
And Attapulgite ain't Kaolinite.
They are both clays - and hence they are both silicates.
However, Kaolinite is aluminium silicate hydroxide and Attapulgite is a hydrated magnesium silicate.
Kaolinite the mineral lends its name to a group of 3 minerals with the same chemistry, but different moecular structure. The others are Dickite and Nacrite.
So now ya know!!
stales
