Kaolinite is a ral c, part of the group of industrial minerals, with the chemical composition

Al
2
Si
2
O
5
(OH)
4
. It is a laered silicate mineral, with one tetrahedral sheet lin!ed through o"gen
atoms to one octahedral sheet of alumina octahedron. #oc!s that are rich in !aolinite are !nown as
kaolin or china clay.
$he chemical formula for !aolinite as used in mineralog is Al
2
Si
2
O
5
(OH)
4
Occurrence in pakistan
%aolinite is one of the most common minerals& it is mined, as !aolin, in 'a!istan. %aolinite cla
occurs in a(undance in soils that ha)e formed from the chemical weathering of roc!s in hot, moist
climates*for e"ample in tropical rainforest areas. +omparing soils along a gradient towards
progressi)el cooler or drier climates, the proportion of !aolinite decreases, while the proportion of
other cla minerals such as illite (in cooler climates) or smectite (in drier climates) increases.
'a!istan is an under de)eloped countr which possesses a(undant natural resources. %aolin +la or
more commonl called +hina +l a is )er popular in potter industr of 'a!istan. $his cla is also
used worldwide in the production of special tpe of cements, paper manufacturing, paint and
insecticides industr (Saamipu!, 2,,,). $here are two huge deposits of !aolin cla a)ai la(le in
'a!istan which are at Shahderai in district Swat of -orth .est /rontier 'ro)ince and -agar 'ar!er
in Sindh 'ro)ince. $he total reser)es in Swat are estimated to (e 2.0 million tons. #ecentl some
reser)es ha)e also (een found in Shahdin and 1oshagram near 2atta in district Swat. According to
a report ( 'a!istan Science /oundation ([Link]).p!), the detailed in)estigation of +hina +la
deposits at -agar 'ar!er area re)ealed that cla consisted of mainl %aolinite and 3uart4 along
with minor traces of 5oethite. $he +hina cla is generall co)ered ( a thin laer of hdrated iron
o"ides. $he cla 4one is of )aring thic!ness either in poc!ets or of lenticular in nature. $he total
reser)es estimated in this area are 6.5 million tons.
Uses
$he largest use is in the production of paper, including ensuring the gloss on some grades of paper.
In April 2,,0, the 7S -a)al 2edical #esearch Institute announced the successful use of a !aolinite8
deri)ed aluminosilicate nanoparticle infusion in traditional gau4e, !nown commerciall as 3ui!+lot
+om(at 5au4e.9:5;
%aolin is used (or was used in the past)<
in ceramics (it is generall the main component in porcelain)
in toothpaste
as a light diffusing material in white incandescent light (ul(s
in cosmetics
as paint to e"tend titanium dio"ide ($iO
2
) and modif gloss le)els
for its semi8reinforcing properties in ru((er
in adhesi)es to modif rheolog 9:=;
in the production of common smo!ing pipes in >urope and Asia
in organic farming, as a spra applied to crops to deter insect damage, and in the case of
apples, to pre)ent sun scald
as whitewash in traditional stone masonr homes in -epal (the most common method is to
paint the upper part with white !aolin cla and the middle with red cla& the red cla ma
e"tend to the (ottom, or the (ottom ma (e painted (lac!)
as a filler in >dison 1iamond 1iscs 9:?;
as an indicator in radiological dating since !aolinite can contain )er small traces of uranium
and thorium
to soothe an upset stomach, similar to the wa parrots (and later, humans) in South America
originall used it9:0; (more recentl, industriall8produced !aolinite preparations were
common for treatment of diarrhea& the most common of these was !aopectate, which
a(andoned the use of !aolin in fa)or of attapulgite and then (in the 7nited States) (ismuth
su(saliclate (the acti)e ingredient in 'epto8@ismol))
for facial mas!s or soap9:A;
as adsor(ents in water and wastewater treatment92,;