Attapulgite clay is clay from Attapulgus, Georgia, USA.
It is hydrous, needle-like magnesium aluminum silicate
[(MgAl)5Si8O22(OH)4·4H2O] and is the chief ingredient
in Fuller's earth. It is used as a suspending agent in
fertilizers, lime, gypsum, etc. and has absorptive and
swelling properties.
Attapulgite clay is also used in drilling fluids,
decolorizing oils and as a filtering medium.