Definition(s)
Clay Mineral
Soft variously coloured earth, commonly hydrous silicate of alumina. NOTE Clay minerals are essentially insoluble in water but disperse under hydration, grinding, heating or velocity effects. Particle sizes of clay mineral can vary from sub-micrometre to larger than 100 μm.
Source: API RP 13C, Recommended Practice on Drilling Fluids Processing Systems Evaluation, Upstream Segment, Fourth Edition, December 2010. Global Standards