Clays and Clay Minerals in Natural and Synthetic Systems

The first edition of the Handbook of Clay Science published in 2006 assembled the scattered literature on the varied and diverse aspects that make up the discipline of clay science. The topics covered range from the fundamental structures (including textures) and properties of clays and clay minerals, through their environmental, health and industrial applications, to their analysis and characterization by modern instrumental techniques. Also included are the clay-microbe interaction, layered double hydroxides, zeolites, cement hydrates, and genesis of clay minerals as well as the history and teaching of clay science. The 2e adds new information from the intervening 6 years and adds some important subjects to make this the most comprehensive and wide-ranging coverage of clay science in one source in the English language. - Provides up-to-date, comprehensive information in a single source - Covers applications of clays, as well as the instrumental analytical techniques - Provides a truly multidisciplinary approach to clay science

Natural health practitioners believe that the body has all the necessary resources to heal itself. Nature has provided for it generously. Clays are perhaps some the most ancient remedies used by people and animals to accelerate healing in the most natural ways possible. Clays work in gentle, intuitive ways, by re-tuning the body systems and stimulating recovery. This is not to say that medicines should be abandoned in favour of clays. This is merely to say that clays have a well-deserved place in our health and beauty routines. The most important property of clay is to detoxify the body, due to its ability to attract positively-charged toxic ions (clay particles are negatively charged) and take them out of the body. A lot of our illnesses happen due to contamination of the body with toxins – both coming from the outside (environmental pollutants), and produced inside (metabolic toxins, such as free radicals, excessive hormones and other metabolic waste). In a healthy body toxins get eliminated by the body systems timely and efficiently. If the body resources are depleted due to stress, illness or fatigue, the removal of toxins is slowed down leading to their accumulation in fat and bone tissues, the brain, as well as other organs and muscles. Over time it can lead to serious health problems. Clays have a wonderful ability to work with the body, gently helping to remove heavy metals and other toxic waste. Clays, muds and salts are also wonderful natural cosmetic substances. They work on the skin by purifying it, regenerating the skin cells and improving blood circulation which ensures more nutrients reaching the skin. Oxygen gets delivered to skin cells more speedily and the removal of toxins and CO2 is facilitated. All this brings wonderful results – the skin becomes smooth, soft, pink, glowing, wrinkles get much less visible - skin regeneration takes place. Clays have been used by humans and animals since prehistoric times – to treat minor ailments, food poisoning, aches and pains, skin infections, mineral deficiency, in beauty rituals, as well as to make cosmetic products. The purpose of this book is to shed a bit more light on the scientific aspects of clays and clay-like minerals and their health-enhancing properties. I hope that you find it both educational and useful in more ways than one.

Origin and Mineralogy of Clays, the first of two volumes, lays the groundwork for a thorough study of clays in the environment. The second volume will deal with environmental interaction. Going from soils to sediments to diagenesis and hydrothermal alteration, the book covers the whole spectrum of clays. The chapters on surface environments are of great relevance in regard to environmental problems in soils, rivers and lake-ocean situations, showing the greatest interaction between living species and the chemicals in their habitat. The book is of interest to scientists and students working on environmental issues.