Montmorillonite

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Montmorillonite is a member of the general mineral group the clays. It typically forms microscopic or at least very small platy micaceous crystals. The water content is variable, and in fact when water is absorbed by the crystals they tend to swell to several times their original volume.  This makes montmorillonite a useful mineral for several purposes. It is the main constituent in a volcanic ash called bentonite, which is used in drilling mud’s. The bentonite gives the water greater viscosity ("thickness" of flow), which is very important in keeping a drill head cool during drilling and facilitating removal of rock and dirt from within a drill hole.

Another important use of montmorillonite is as an additive to soils and rocks. The effect of the montmorillonite is to slow the progress of water through the soil or rocks.  This is important to farmers with extended dry periods, engineers of earthen dams or levees or perhaps to plug up old drill holes to prevent leakage of toxic fluids from bottom levels to higher aquifers used for drinking water.