1. …….. a white, alumina- silicate that has SHAPED our past and continues to SHAPE our future.

2. Kaolin is found all across Georgia along the Fall Line. Washington County is known as the Kaolin capital of the world. Washington County… in the Heart of Georgia !

3. Kaolinite is represented by the chemical formula Al2Si2O5(OH)4, and it most often occurs as clay, plate-like, hexagonally shaped crystals. What is the chemical formula for Kaolinite?

4. THE MEANING OF KAOLIN AND WHERE AND WHEN IT WAS FOUND Kaolin was first found in China in the seventh and eighth century. Kaolin is a Chinese word that means high ridge. Kaolin was first discovered in the United States in a place called Hockessin, Delaware. The first place in Georgia that kaolin was found in was Dry Branch in 1897.

5. Kaolin: how did it get here? Georgia kaolin deposits occur in late Cretaceous sedimentary rocks. The sediments came from weathered igneous and metamorphic rocks of the Georgia Piedmont hills. A long time ago, sediments were carried by rivers to the edge of a sea coast which we know today as the Fall Line.

6. First they have to cut down the trees where they want to mine the kaolin and carry them away. How do we get to the kaolin? Linton Logging

7. What happens to all the dirt covering the kaolin? All the dirt which is overburden is dug out and stock piled on site. It is later used for building roads and will be used to fill in the place where the kaolin is removed. Lots of machinery is used to do this! W. F. Jackson Construction

8. What happens to the land after the kaolin is removed? After the kaolin is removed, the land is reclaimed and restored by fixing the surface to blend in with the surrounding land. Reclaimed lands are suitable for lots of things like agriculture, forest production and wildlife.

9. Where does the kaolin go after it is mined? After the kaolin is dug out of the earth it is taken to one of the kaolin companies such as KaMin, Thiele, Imerys, Burgess and BASF. It is then mixed, purified, and refined. The finished product can then be shipped in the Sandersville Railroad tank cars. Tennille 5 miles Sandersville Railroad

10. Here are the steps to refining kaolin. Stockpiles { Clay Grades} Blending Mining Blunging Degritting Mine Storage Pipeline Plant Storage Screening Magnetic Separation

11. Here are some more steps in the refining process……… Plant Storage  Classification  Plant Storage  Screening  Leaching  Plant Storage  Filtration  Plant Storage  Screening  Spray Drying  Slurry Makedown  Shipping C. T. Harris slurry makedown Classification Plant Storage

12. Have you ever wondered why there are so many Howard Sheppard trucks or so many trains in our community? Well, all of those trucks and trains are transporting kaolin after it is refined to other parts of the world. HOWARD SHEPPARD

13. What do we make with all that kaolin? Light bulb Toothpaste Rubber Soap Paint Facial Mask Paper

14. How Does Kaolin Affect Us? The overall impact on Georgia is estimated at 800 million dollars. More than 4000 people are employed by the kaolin industries. Millions of dollars in taxes are generated by the kaolin producers each year. These facts make people in Washington County very happy!

15. Have a great time at the 2012 Kaolin Festival!