Occurrence and mineralogy of a deposit of shampoo-clay in southern Iran

The mineralogy and occurrence of an Iranian clay size deposit, locally called ‘Gel-E-Sarshourʹ’ or shampoo-clay, was studied. The material is mined from shallow subsurface channels of 25 to 50 m in length which occur on hilly landforms of limestone outcrops associated with the Cretaceous Jahrom Formation in S-Iran. Clay masses (1 to 2 m thick) inside caves are wet and plastic with dominantly gray colors and sandwiched between two layers, of dense dolomitic limestone. The clay is extremely hard with a soapy feeling upon dehydration. wetting and mixing with some rose water for the purpose of fragrance, the substance is mainly used as a shampoo (to combat dandruff and excessive greasiness) because of its swelling property, high specific surface and absorption capacity (especially Mg). The powdered form is used for treatment of burns, rashes, and also as a deodorant, poison absorbent and soil conditioner. Upon hydration, it forms gel-like masses and swells in excess of its original volume. neralogy of the Zarrin-Mine bentonite, which is mined in Iran and used by oil companies, was also studied as a reference. udy carried out by XRD, IR and chemical analysis has shown that the main component of the Gel-E-Sarshour clay is a dioctahedral smectite of high layer charge, with minor amounts of mica, vermiculite and quartz.