Bentonite
Biggest use - Drilling & Construction Borehole / Water well drilling: They mix it with water to make "drilling mud". It cools the drill, carries sand out, and seals the hole so it doesn't collapse.
• Oil & Gas drilling: Same job, but more critical.
• Foundation & Waterproofing: Mixed with cement for grouting, sealing leakages, making slurry walls, and waterproofing
• Housing / Civil work: To plug leaking soakaway, dam seepage. 2. Factory & Industrial
• Foundry: Binder for molding sand to make metal casting.
• Cat Litter: That clumping cat litter is 100% bentonite. It absorbs urine and clumps.
Agriculture & Animal
• Animal feed binder: Small amount is added to poultry / fish feed to bind toxins (aflatoxin) in the stomach.
• Fertilizer / Soil improvement: Helps sandy soil hold water