Sodium Bentonite (also known as Western or Wyoming Bentonite) is a smectite clay with sodium as the dominant exchangeable ion. Sodium Bentonite has very high swelling characteristics and forms gel like masses when combined with water. Bentonite mining began near Rock River Wyoming in 1888 and was initially sold for cosmetics. In the 1920's the mineral began use as a foundry sand. Bentonite was first used as “Drilling Mud” in the late 1920's and early 1930's. In the early 30's Western Clay Company began processing Sodium Bentonite from deposits located in the Sevier Valley of Central Utah. The deposits were also extensively used by Native Americans and early settlers for a variety of applications from healing poultices to roofing.

Other uses:
-Filtering Agents
-Wine Clarification
-Waste Water Treatment
-Sealing Reservoirs, Ditches, Ponds, Basement Walls. Tunnel Walls and other structures
-Cosmetics
-Animal Feed
-Pharmaceuticals
-Paint
-Ceramics
-Fire Retardation
-Clumping Pet Litter
-Slurry Walls
-Coating Some Types of Computer Pape

Get the data sheet.
Material Safety Data Sheet.