One deposit, one specification
93–100% clinoptilolite, and here is the rest of the data sheet.
Clinoptilolite is a natural zeolite — a volcanic mineral whose crystal framework carries a permanent negative charge and is riddled with pores of a fixed size. The charge holds positively charged ions. The pores hold water. Neither property wears out.
The framework is built of silicon and oxygen, and about one corner in six is aluminium instead of silicon. Aluminium carries one less positive charge, so the whole structure ends up slightly negative — millions of times over. Positive ions drift in and park in the tunnels: sodium, potassium, calcium. When ammonium-rich water passes through, ammonium takes those places and the sodium leaves. That swap is called ion exchange, and it is the mechanism behind every application on this site.
The pores are 0.43 nm across. That is wide enough for a hydrated ammonium ion and far too narrow for a bacterium, which is why bacteria colonise the outside of the grains rather than the inside — and, in a mature filter, strip the ammonium back off and regenerate the mineral in place.
Specification
- Clinoptilolite content
- 93–100% (XRD)
- Cation exchange capacity
- 108–146 meq/100 g
- Bulk density
- 650–850 kg/m³
- pH
- 7.0–8.0
- Specific surface area
- 40 m²/g
- Pore diameter
- 0.43 nm
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 2–3
- Loss on ignition
- 6.4–15.8%
- Na₂O
- 0.3–1.3%
- Quartz
- 0–2%
Two numbers we correct
Surface area is 40 m²/g. You will see 500–1,000 m²/g quoted for clinoptilolite across the industry. Those figures belong to synthetic zeolites or to a different measurement entirely. Ours is 40 m²/g, from our own data sheet.
Hardness is 2–3 on the Mohs scale, which is soft. For most uses that does not matter. For a permanent construction rootzone under traffic it might, and we are running abrasion testing before we recommend it there.