Terrageena Clay Origin, Composition and Processing

Where does Terrageena come from?

It comes from the mineral Smectite, found only in the original material rock called Phyllite. Mined in the mountains of Mendoza, in the Andes Mountain Range of Argentina which borders Chile, the raw material used for the production of the Terrageena, Green Clay Smectite is not secret but the mines where it is extracted, are private and restricted. For many years this has prevented other green clays with similar characteristics from being launched in the market. The original Phyllite rock is not available in its mined form in America.

All clay is volcanic ash. As lava flows from the volcanic cone, the ash is blown high into the atmosphere and settles to the ground. The mineral results from the fragmentation of rocks that have been carried by water flows until they settled in a place where the dragging force is lower. The unique blend of minerals harvested in this mine, as a pure natural aggregate (Smectite), and ground into mixable form in a highly controlled process and protected environment, comes to you as Terrageena..

The characteristics of clay not only depend on its chemical components and on the percentage of such elements, but also on the way they physically and chemically “relate” to each other.

What makes Terrageena the finest facial clay?

It’s composition and how well they relate, is much higher than any other green clays you will find in the world. Terrageena is the greenest Smectite clay on earth. The green color is produced by naturally occurring ferrous oxide.

100% Natural, No Preservatives, Additives or Artificial Colors

This chart shows the Substances and Content % in Phyllite.

Silicon Oxide	54.62
Aluminum Oxide	20.46
Iron Oxide	9.24
Magnesium Oxide	3.52
Calcium Oxide	1.30
Potassium Oxide	4.00
Sodium Oxide	1.71
Humidity	0.15
Sulfate	0.17
Loss by Calcination	4.83

Mineral properties: Smectite, Hydromica, Quartz, Feldspar, Kaolinite and other trace elements and minerals.

Analysis by Laboratory of the Mining Department of the Ministry of Economy, Province of Mendoza, Argentina,

Dept. Head: Humberto L. Condorelli

Chemically speaking, Smectite is a magnesium silicate aluminum and its colors may range from white, gray or pink. It has a significant water retention capacity, and when the clay is dried in an pen space, it can keep 15-25% water. This situation greatly benefits the moisturizing of the skin during applications. Green is the best of all Smectites.

The unique, user-friendly qualities of Terrageena, enable a wide range of applications. i.e. Green facials, body masque, even great for providing nutrients to your most precious plants. Terrageena presents no unfavorable effects, therefore it is suitable for all skin types. Excellent for both men and women.

What does “Smectite” mean?

It is a compact rock found within Phyllite. Smectite (or Esmecitite) is easy to break and when in contact with water, easily turns into clay with very mobile and fine particles. This type of clay, more complicated than any of the other 6 groups of clay found around the world, Smectite clays make-up the majority of those used for health applications. Though Terrageena is sold as a topical mask only, Smectites are also used for dietary purposes. Of the Smectites, there are hundreds of different types of clays each varying in it’s mineral composition and in how well their elements “relate”.

Smectites have the particular quality of absorbing and adsorping positive charged ions. (Adsorption: A substance’s ability to retain other substances in its surface.)
Absorbs toxins at a higher rate
Promotes blood circulation, reduces inflammation
High concentration of mineral salts necessary for our body
Has a higher exchange capacity than in any other clay group
Shows a low humidity content
Lowest organic matter content which makes it a highly pure product in mineral elements suitable for cosmetic applications
Smectite clay shows higher contents of: aluminum oxide, iron oxide, magnesium oxide and potassium oxide. Such substances are essential elements to achieve beneficial effects during the cosmetic application of the production.
Though Smectite belongs to the Bentonite group, it does not swell from the absorption of water like other minerals or clays, which prevents water from being transferred freely during applications. This remarkable characteristic of Smectite enables water incorporated in the preparation of the clay, to moisturize the skin

Granulometry

On examination of the size of the Smectite particles, it is significant to mention that this particular clay shows a wider range and more balanced distribution, with a predominance of particles between 74 and 44 micrometers.

Such small size particles have a very smooth abrasive action on the application area even when applied with soft movements:

making it an excellent exfoliate to remove dead cells from the skin
a skin smoother for its unctuousness (abundant in organic materials; soft and rich)
has a great impurity retention capacity due to its adsortion condition
removes ions damaging to our organism
low moisturizing heat creating a refreshing condition

Crystalline Structure

Clays are aluminosilicates, whose basic structural unit is composed of an atom of silicon located within a regular tetrahedron and in its vertexes, there are oxygen atoms. In the aluminum atom center, which can be replaced by magnesium, iron hydroxyl ions. The isolated tetrahedrons are chained, sharing 3 of their 4 oxygen atoms. They locate all in a same level, forming a “lamila” or “layer”. The layers of tetrahedrons and octahedrons are connected inside a 3-dimensional structure but always keeping its lamina or layer shape.

This special disposition of tetrahedrons in lamina, with an indefinite extension is known as “Filosilicates” (from the Greek: “Phyllon” which means “leaves”).

What is the production process of the clay?

The production personnel wear sealed shoes, cap and mask to protect from the dust, disposable latex gloves, always abiding by internal security rules: no smoking inside the premises, no food consumption is allowed during production processes. Each processor must have a current health record. The production facility is kept very clean by US standards.

The raw material (smectite), is first extracted from the load of phyllite. It is then broken down, pulverized and then processed through an electronic ionization process, removing all microbes. The clay is then subjected to Calcination (also referred to as Calcining), a process in which the material is heated to a high temperature without fusing (melting), so that hydrates, carbonates, and other compounds are decomposed and the volatile material is expelled. Our thermal treatment process is at 855°C, expelling 4.85% of volume.

Later in Quality Control, the refined, cleaned product is x-rayed for impurities. (described below). The now pure clay material is then inserted into the production form. Inputs are taken from there and then deposited to the weighting room. Once in the fractioning and conditioning room, the loading hopper is filled. The measuring apparatus starts to fill the containers. Each container is electronically weighed. The desired weight is then placed in the production line where another operator seals the container.

Quality Control

The Quality Control sector takes all of the necessary samples during the entire production stage, then carrying out the corresponding analyses. Once, favorable results (the great majority) are determined, each sample is labeled “ACCEPTED” and the “pending” sign is changed for a “free” sign. The lot is then free for sales and distribution.

In the case of a “DENIED” lot, Quality Control informs Administration about the results of the analyses. The “Pending” sign is changed for another that says “DENIED” and later the corresponding course of action is taken. The materials are then removed.

Below there are some specifications about the most important researches to determine acceptance and quality factors.

Our manufacturing process guarantees through thorough microbiologic and physiochemical analyses, the natural purity and quality of this product.

Our manufacturing process is authorized by ANMAT

(“National Administration of Medical Technology, Food and Drugs under the supervision of The Health Ministry of the Republic of Argentina) For: “Manufacturing products for personal hygiene, cosmetics and perfumes in powder”

Microbologic Analysis

Orghanoleptic characteristics: