Utilization of Minnesota Clays to Produce New Clay Products: Initial Research

Abstract

NRRI's mission was to evaluate the geologic, geochemical, mineralogical and physical characteristics of clays throughout the state of Minnesota. During the project period, the 499 clay samples collected represented primary and secondary kaolinitic clays, Cretaceous shales, glacial tills, loess and lake clays, Precambrian argillites and shales, and Paleozoic shales. In addition, detailed geologic mapping of existing clay mines was conducted to document the three dimensional relationships between the different types of samples.