Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

CJW-YALK t1_jb3e24f wrote

Reply to comment by Jmazoso in Why does sand keep clay from shrinking as it dries? by UnderBridg

Yep, but kaolinite was a filler mineral, it’s completely inert…nevertheless you’ll see people picking it up off the side of the road to eat raw from where it’s fallen off haul trucks

5

Jmazoso t1_jb3wequ wrote

Not completely inert. It likes water, it bonds with water chemically due to its physical/chemical charge. It does swell somewhat when it does this, not to the extent that illite and montmorillionite do, but some. So it will make “stuff” less fluid.

3

gristc t1_jb40z1s wrote

Don't leave us in suspense, what does it taste like?

1

CJW-YALK t1_jb4wmbr wrote

Well….I routinely tasted it to determine its grit (sand) content in the field (I’m a geologist) …..it tastes like nothing, texture wise it’s like chalk until wet then it’s creamy…I was always tasting such a small amount and always focused on the sand part (rubbing on teeth) …..everything but the most pure stuff will have a sand content so eating raw kaolin will be unpleasant honestly

5