1. The Kaolin Process J. Branan Homeroom Ridge Road Elementary 3 rd Grade Photo: www.Thielekaolin.com

2. Mining Kaolin is usually transported by truck from the mine to the processing plants, many of which are located at or near the mine. In our words: Picking kaolin up in a truck and taking it to the plant.

3. Stockpile Clay Grades A large supply of kaolin is gathered and held in reserve for use during a shortage or during a period of higher prices. In our words: Putting kaolin in a big stack so you don’t run out.

4. Blending …mixing different types of kaolin to achieve optimum mix of particle size, and to equalize variation of mix In our words: mixing it up

5. Blunging The kaolin is mixed with water and chemicals to create milk-shake-like slurry. Slurry is simply the water and dispersed clay mixture. In our words: mixing the kaolin with water

6. Degritting The slurried kaolin is transported through pipelines where sand, mica and other impurities are extracted with the help of gravity. In our words: You are taking out the stuff you don’t want

7. Mine Storage …the storage of products in silos and tanks In our words: putting the kaolin in tanks

8. Pipeline A pipeline is a long tubular conduit with pumps and valves for flow control; it is also used to transport kaolin over distances. In our words: runs the kaolin to the places it needs to go

9. Plant The equipment and buildings necessary to carry on kaolin manufacturing is the plant. In our words: a building where they make kaolin

10. Plant Storage …the storage of products in silos and tanks In our words: keeping the kaolin in tanks

11. Screening Screening the kaolin is passing it through meshed material to remove larger pieces that are not needed. In our words: kaolin is run through a screen where large pieces are taken out.

12. Magnetic Separation The kaolin slurry is pumped through highly compressed fine stainless steel wool. When it is energized, it separates the magnetic minerals and allows the non-magnetic kaolin to pass through. In our words: The magnet helps take out the stuff they don’t want in the kaolin.

13. Plant Storage …the storage of products in silos and tanks In our words: keeping the kaolin in tanks

14. Classification …organizing the kaolin by classes or types. In our words: puts the kaolin with others like it

15. Plant Storage …the storage of products in silos and tanks In our words: keeping the kaolin in tanks

16. Screening Screening the kaolin is passing it through meshed material to remove larger pieces that are not needed. In our words: kaolin is run through a screen where large pieces are taken out.

17. Leaching Leaching the kaolin involves dissolving out the soluble parts by percolation. In our words: boiling the kaolin to take out the parts they don’t want.

18. Plant Storage …the storage of products in silos and tanks In our words: keeping the kaolin in tanks

19. Filtration Large rotary vacuum filters remove water from the slurried kaolin. In our words: It takes the water out of the kaolin

20. Plant Storage …the storage of products in silos and tanks In our words: keeping the kaolin in tanks

21. Screening Screening the kaolin is passing it through meshed material to remove larger pieces that are not needed. In our words: kaolin is run through a screen where large pieces are taken out.

22. Spray Drying Spray drying kaolin is a method of producing a dry powder from a slurry by rapidly drying it with a hot gas. In our words: spraying it with hot air to dry it

23. Shipping Shipping involves shipping the kaolin to other parts of the country and world. In our words: Sending the kaolin to the people who buy it.